Pantera
A name of Spanish origin meaning "panther" or "female panther".
Name Census estimates that about 96 living Americans carry the first name Pantera. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pantera today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pantera births was 2008 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pantera. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Pantera. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
96
~ 1 in 3,570,358 Americans
Peak year
2008
13 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2021 SSA rank
#17,063
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Pantera: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pantera from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 49 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pantera 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 Pantera during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Pantera
The name Pantera originates from the Spanish and Portuguese languages, deriving from the word "pantera," which means "panther" in English. This name has its roots in the Latin word "panthera," which in turn comes from the Ancient Greek word "πάνθηρ" (panthēr), meaning the same.
The panther, a powerful and graceful wild cat, has been revered and symbolized in various cultures throughout history. In ancient Roman and Greek mythology, the panther was associated with the god Bacchus (or Dionysus), the god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, and madness. The panther was believed to be one of the animals that pulled Bacchus' chariot.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Pantera can be found in ancient Roman texts, such as the works of Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), a Roman author and naturalist. Pliny wrote extensively about the natural world, including descriptions of the panther.
In medieval times, the name Pantera was occasionally used as a personal name, particularly in Spain and Portugal, where the languages and cultures were influenced by Roman and Greek traditions. However, it remained relatively rare until more recent centuries.
One notable historical figure with the name Pantera was Pantera de Ayala (c. 1480-1538), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. He played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
Another individual with the name Pantera was Pantera Negra (1819-1893), a Brazilian revolutionary and abolitionist who fought against slavery and for the rights of Afro-Brazilians in the 19th century.
In the realm of literature, Pantera was the name of a character in the epic poem "Os Lusíadas" by the renowned Portuguese poet Luís de Camões (c. 1524-1580). This work is considered one of the greatest literary achievements in the Portuguese language.
In the world of music, Pantera was the name of an influential American heavy metal band formed in 1981. The band, known for their aggressive sound and influential albums such as "Cowboys from Hell" and "Vulgar Display of Power," had a significant impact on the metal genre.
Another notable figure with the name Pantera was Pantera Pico (1856-1925), an Italian artist and sculptor known for his intricate and detailed works in marble and bronze.
While the name Pantera has seen occasional use throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon as a first name. However, its connection to the powerful and symbolic panther, as well as its roots in ancient mythology and literature, have made it a unique and intriguing choice.
People
Pantera + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pantera 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
Pantera: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pantera?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 96 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pantera 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 3,570,358 US residents.
Is Pantera a common name?
We classify Pantera as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 97 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pantera most popular?
The single biggest year for Pantera was 2008, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pantera is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pantera a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pantera 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.