Peregrin
A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "wanderer" or "pilgrim".
Name Census estimates that about 100 living Americans carry the first name Peregrin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Peregrin today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Peregrin births was 2024 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Peregrin. 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
100
~ 1 in 3,427,543 Americans
Peak year
2024
20 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,986
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Peregrin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Peregrin from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 61 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
Peregrin 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 Peregrin 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 Peregrin
The name Peregrin has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the word "peregrinus," which means "foreigner" or "traveler." This name was commonly used during the Roman era, particularly among those who traveled extensively or lived abroad.
In the early centuries of Christianity, the name Peregrin gained significance as it was borne by several saints and martyrs. One of the most notable was Saint Peregrine, a 5th-century Italian saint and the patron saint of cancer patients. He was born around 425 AD in Forlì, Italy, and is renowned for his miraculous healing powers.
Another historical figure with the name Peregrin was Peregrine Bertie, an English nobleman who lived during the 16th century. He was born in 1555 and served as the 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. Peregrine Bertie played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting King Charles I but later switching sides to the Parliamentarians.
In literature, the name Peregrin is perhaps most famously associated with the character Peregrin Took, also known as Pippin, from J.R.R. Tolkien's acclaimed fantasy novel "The Lord of the Rings." Pippin, a hobbit and one of the central characters, embarks on an epic journey across Middle-earth, showcasing the qualities of bravery and loyalty that the name Peregrin represents.
Another notable bearer of the name was Peregrine Pickle, the protagonist of Tobias Smollett's 1751 novel of the same name. Peregrine Pickle was a mischievous and adventurous character, reflecting the wandering and exploratory nature associated with the name Peregrin.
Peregrine Osborne, born in 1886, was an English writer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party. He was also a prolific author, publishing several novels and works of non-fiction during his lifetime.
In the realm of aviation, Peregrine Cascoigne Massingberd, born in 1909, was a pioneering British aviator and air racing champion. He held several speed records and won numerous air races, solidifying his place in aviation history.
People
Peregrin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Peregrin 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
Peregrin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Peregrin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 100 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Peregrin 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 3,427,543 US residents.
Is Peregrin a common name?
We classify Peregrin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 101 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Peregrin most popular?
The single biggest year for Peregrin was 2024, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Peregrin is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Peregrin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Peregrin 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.