Paraskevas
A Greek masculine name derived from the word "Paraskevi" meaning "Friday".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Paraskevas. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Paraskevas today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paraskevas births was 2004 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paraskevas. 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 Paraskevas. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2004
5 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2004 SSA rank
#12,729
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Paraskevas: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Paraskevas 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 Paraskevas during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Paraskevas
The name Paraskevas is of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word "Paraskeve" which means "preparation" or "getting ready." It is closely related to the word "Paraskeui," which refers to Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath in the Greek Orthodox tradition.
The earliest known use of the name Paraskevas dates back to the Byzantine era, where it was commonly given to children born on a Friday. It was a popular name among the Greek Orthodox Christian community and was often associated with the Virgin Mary, who was revered for her role in preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Paraskevas can be found in the hagiography of Saint Paraskeva, a influential Christian saint and martyr of the 3rd century AD. She was venerated for her unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution. Her feast day, celebrated on July 26th, became a significant occasion for those bearing her name.
Throughout history, the name Paraskevas has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Paraskevas Kanellopoulos (1877-1952), a Greek politician who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 1945 to 1946. He played a crucial role in the country's transition to a democratic government after the end of World War II.
Another prominent figure was Paraskevas Tsaldaris (1899-1970), a Greek army officer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 1946 to 1947. He was instrumental in the reconstruction efforts following the devastation of World War II and the Greek Civil War.
In the field of literature, Paraskevas Doxaras (1913-1975) was a celebrated Greek poet and writer. His works, which often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, earned him widespread acclaim and multiple literary awards.
The name Paraskevas has also been carried by notable figures in the arts, such as Paraskevas Kakanakis (1907-1995), a renowned Greek sculptor whose works are displayed in museums and public spaces throughout Greece.
In the realm of sports, Paraskevas Antzas (1946-2008) was a Greek footballer who played as a goalkeeper for several clubs, including Panathinaikos and the Greek national team. He was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Greek football history.
People
Paraskevas + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paraskevas 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
Paraskevas: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paraskevas?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paraskevas 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Paraskevas a common name?
We classify Paraskevas as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paraskevas most popular?
The single biggest year for Paraskevas was 2004, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paraskevas is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Paraskevas in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Paraskevas a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paraskevas in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Paraskevas still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Paraskevas in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Paraskevas can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Paraskevas?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Paraskevas, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.