Percel
A masculine name of uncertain origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Percel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Percel today is around 64 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Percel births was 1925 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Percel. 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 Percel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1925
5 babies that year
Average age
64
years old
1967 SSA rank
#4,397
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Percel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Percel from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Percel 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 Percel 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 Percel
The name Percel is believed to have originated from the Latin word "percellere," which means "to strike" or "to beat." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who had a strong or forceful personality, or perhaps a renowned warrior or soldier.
The earliest known use of the name Percel dates back to the Roman Empire, where it was used as a cognomen, or a personal surname, for some individuals. However, there are no records of any significant historical figures bearing this name during that time period.
In the Middle Ages, the name Percel appeared in various parts of Europe, particularly in France and Italy. It is thought that the name may have been introduced to these regions by Roman settlers or through the influence of the Catholic Church, which often used Latin names.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Percel was a French nobleman named Percel de Montfort, who lived in the 12th century. He was a prominent figure in the Crusades and participated in the siege of Acre during the Third Crusade.
Another notable figure with the name Percel was an Italian painter and fresco artist named Percel Boccati, who was active in the late 15th century and early 16th century. He is known for his work in several churches and cathedrals throughout Italy, including the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
In the 16th century, there was a Spanish explorer and navigator named Percel de Villalobos, who led an expedition to the Philippines and other parts of the Pacific Ocean. He was responsible for naming several islands in the region.
During the 17th century, a French philosopher and mathematician named Percel Descartes made significant contributions to the fields of geometry and analytical mathematics. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the Scientific Revolution.
In the 19th century, a German composer and pianist named Percel Schumann gained recognition for his works, which included symphonies, concertos, and chamber music. He was also a prominent music critic and helped promote the works of other composers during the Romantic era.
While the name Percel has been relatively uncommon throughout history, these examples demonstrate its use across various cultures and time periods, often associated with individuals who made notable contributions in their respective fields.
People
Percel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Percel 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
Percel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Percel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Percel 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Percel a common name?
We classify Percel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Percel most popular?
The single biggest year for Percel was 1925, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Percel is about 64 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Percel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Percel 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.
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.