Paraskevi
Of Greek origin, meaning "the eve of Friday".
Name Census estimates that about 258 living Americans carry the first name Paraskevi. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Paraskevi today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paraskevi births was 2005 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paraskevi. 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
258
~ 1 in 1,328,505 Americans
Peak year
2005
13 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2023 SSA rank
#14,724
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Paraskevi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Paraskevi from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 63 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Paraskevi remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Paraskevi 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 Paraskevi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Paraskevis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Paraskevi
The given name Paraskevi has its origins in the Greek language and culture, and it can be traced back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Greek word "Paraskevi," which means "Friday" or "preparation day," referring to the day before the Sabbath in the Christian tradition.
In Greek mythology, Paraskevi was associated with the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, Athena. The name was often given to girls born on Friday, as it was considered an auspicious day in Greek culture. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the Byzantine era, around the 5th century AD.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Paraskevi was Saint Paraskeva of Rome, a Christian martyr who lived in the 2nd century AD. She is revered in the Eastern Orthodox Church and has several churches named after her in various parts of Eastern Europe and Russia.
Another notable figure was Paraskevi Pitsou (1838-1911), a Greek feminist and writer who advocated for women's rights and education in the late 19th century. She played a significant role in the establishment of the first girls' school in Athens.
In the 20th century, Paraskevi Avgerinou (1898-1973) was a Greek painter and sculptor known for her contributions to the modernist art movement in Greece. Her works are exhibited in various museums and galleries around the world.
Paraskevi Oprandy (1903-1976) was a Greek-American actress and dancer who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s. She was also known for her philanthropic efforts in support of Greek-American organizations.
Paraskevi Patoulidou (1900-1992) was a renowned Greek actress who starred in numerous Greek films and theater productions throughout her career, spanning over six decades. She is considered a pioneering figure in modern Greek cinema.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Paraskevi throughout history, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and significance in the Greek tradition.
People
Paraskevi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paraskevi 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
Paraskevi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paraskevi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 258 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paraskevi 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 1,328,505 US residents.
Is Paraskevi a common name?
We classify Paraskevi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 271 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paraskevi most popular?
The single biggest year for Paraskevi was 2005, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paraskevi is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Paraskevi a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paraskevi 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.