Palmira
A given female name of Spanish and Italian origin meaning "palm tree".
Name Census estimates that about 433 living Americans carry the first name Palmira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Palmira today is around 57 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Palmira births was 1924 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Palmira. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
433
~ 1 in 791,580 Americans
Peak year
1924
20 babies that year
Average age
57
years old
2016 SSA rank
#18,198
Tracked since 1911
Popularity
Palmira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Palmira from the 1910s through to the 2010s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 143 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Palmira by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Palmira during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Palmiras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Texas, California, Massachusetts recorded the most babies named Palmira, while New York, Massachusetts, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 58 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Palmira
The name Palmira has its origins in the Latin language, originating from the ancient Roman civilization. It is derived from the Latin word "palma," which means "palm tree" or "victory." The name is believed to have been in use as early as the 1st century AD, during the peak of the Roman Empire.
In ancient Roman culture, the palm tree was a symbol of victory and triumph, often associated with military conquests and athletic achievements. As such, the name Palmira may have been given to girls born in families with a strong military background or those who celebrated significant victories or triumphs.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Palmira can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Pliny the Younger, who lived from AD 61 to 112. He mentioned a woman named Palmira in one of his letters, suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Palmira. One of the most famous was Palmira Brummett (1914-1988), an American aviator and flight instructor who played a significant role in training pilots during World War II. She was also a pioneer in promoting aviation education for women.
Another notable Palmira was Palmira Teles (1904-1994), a Brazilian writer and activist who fought for women's rights and social justice. Her works, which often explored themes of feminism and societal issues, were widely acclaimed and influential in Brazil.
In the realm of music, Palmira Arellano (1924-2016) was a renowned Chilean singer and actress known for her work in traditional Chilean folk music. She was recognized as a national cultural icon and received numerous awards for her contributions to preserving and promoting Chilean cultural heritage.
The name Palmira also holds historical significance in the world of archaeology. The ancient city of Palmyra, located in present-day Syria, was an important trading hub and cultural center in the ancient world. The city's name, derived from the same Latin root as the name Palmira, further reinforces the connection between the name and the symbolism of the palm tree.
Another notable figure named Palmira was Palmira Matos-Fernandez (1923-2014), a Puerto Rican educator and civil rights activist. She played a crucial role in desegregating public schools in Puerto Rico and advocating for equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
People
Palmira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Palmira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Palmira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Palmira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 433 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Palmira going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 791,580 US residents.
Is Palmira a common name?
We classify Palmira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 852 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Palmira most popular?
The single biggest year for Palmira was 1924, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Palmira is about 57 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Palmira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Palmira in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.