Pasty
A slang term for a pale, unhealthy complexion.
Name Census estimates that about 85 living Americans carry the first name Pasty. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pasty today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pasty births was 1956 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pasty. 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
- • The typical person named Pasty is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Pastys were born before 1968.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Pasty. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
85
~ 1 in 4,032,404 Americans
Peak year
1956
8 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1975 SSA rank
#10,138
Tracked since 1927
Popularity
Pasty: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pasty from the 1920s through to the 1970s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 62 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pasty 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 Pasty 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 Pasty
The given name Pasty has its roots in the Latin word 'pasta', which means 'dough' or 'pastry'. The name is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region during the Roman Empire, where pasta dishes were a staple in the diet. The earliest known reference to the name can be traced back to the 2nd century AD, in a Roman cookbook that mentions a dish called 'pasty'.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Pasty was a Roman baker named Pasty Maximus, who lived in the city of Pompeii during the 1st century AD. He was renowned for his delicious pastries and breads, and his bakery was a popular spot for residents and visitors alike.
In the 5th century, a Christian nun named Pasty of Arles became known for her charitable works and her devotion to the poor. She established a convent in the city of Arles, in present-day France, and is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church.
During the Middle Ages, the name Pasty gained popularity in various parts of Europe, particularly in England and France. One notable figure was Pasty the Jester, a court entertainer who served at the court of King Edward II of England in the early 14th century.
In the 15th century, a French knight named Pasty de Montfort gained fame for his bravery and skill in battle during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He was celebrated in several contemporary chronicles and ballads.
Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, a British explorer named Pasty Wilkins embarked on several expeditions to the Arctic regions, contributing to the mapping and exploration of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. His journals and accounts of his voyages were widely read and admired in his time.
These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the name Pasty throughout history, ranging from bakers and saints to entertainers and explorers. While the name may not be as common today, it has a rich and diverse heritage that spans across cultures and centuries.
People
Pasty + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pasty 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
Pasty: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pasty?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 85 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pasty 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 4,032,404 US residents.
Is Pasty a common name?
We classify Pasty as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 136 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pasty most popular?
The single biggest year for Pasty was 1956, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pasty is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pasty a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pasty 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.