Paraskeve
A feminine given name of Greek origin meaning "Friday".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Paraskeve. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Paraskeve today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paraskeve births was 1976 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paraskeve. 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 Paraskeve. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1976
7 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
1976 SSA rank
#7,878
Tracked since 1976
Popularity
Paraskeve: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Paraskeve 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 Paraskeve during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Paraskeve
The name Paraskeve originates from the Greek language and has its roots in the word "Paraskevi," which means "preparation" or "getting ready." The name is closely associated with the Greek Orthodox Church and the Christian tradition of preparing for the Sabbath or Sunday.
In Greek mythology, Paraskeve was also the name of one of the Graces, the three goddesses of charm, beauty, and creativity. The Graces were often depicted in ancient Greek art and literature, reflecting the cultural significance of this name.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Paraskeve can be found in the New Testament of the Bible, where it appears as the name of a woman from the city of Philippi who was among the first converts to Christianity in Europe.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Paraskeve. One of the most famous was Saint Paraskeve (circa 3rd century AD), a Christian martyr from Rome who was particularly venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Her feast day is celebrated on July 26th.
Another prominent figure with this name was Paraskeve Pitsou (1802-1888), a Greek heroine who played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.
In the 20th century, Paraskeve Gkonis (1894-1970) was a Greek actress and singer who had a successful career in theater and film, particularly in the interwar period.
Paraskeve Oppenheim (1914-1985), an American artist and sculptor of Greek descent, was known for her innovative use of materials and her contributions to the Surrealist movement.
Lastly, Paraskeve Patridou (1892-1964) was a Greek physician and one of the first female medical doctors in Greece, breaking gender barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Paraskeve throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and significance of this name in various contexts.
People
Paraskeve + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paraskeve 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
Paraskeve: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paraskeve?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paraskeve 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Paraskeve a common name?
We classify Paraskeve as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paraskeve most popular?
The single biggest year for Paraskeve was 1976, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paraskeve is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Paraskeve a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paraskeve 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.