Perian
A feminine name of French origin meaning "wanderer" or "traveler".
Name Census estimates that about 57 living Americans carry the first name Perian. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Perian today is around 66 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Perian births was 1960 (53 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Perian. 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 Perian is about 66 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Perians were born before 1970.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Perian. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
57
~ 1 in 6,013,234 Americans
Peak year
1960
53 babies that year
Average age
66
years old
1962 SSA rank
#5,175
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Perian: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Perian from the 1950s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 66 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
Perian 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 Perian 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 Perian
The name Perian has its origins tracing back to ancient Persia, which was a historic region in Western Asia corresponding to modern-day Iran. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Persian word "pari," meaning fairy or a celestial being from Persian mythology. This linguistic connection suggests that the name Perian may have been associated with grace, beauty, and supernatural qualities in its early usage.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Perian can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, composed by the renowned poet Ferdowsi around 1010 CE. In this literary masterpiece, Perian is depicted as a mythical figure, a beautiful fairy-like creature who captivates with her enchanting presence.
Throughout history, the name Perian has been borne by various individuals, some of whom have left their mark on various fields. One notable figure was Perian ibn Rustam (720-790 CE), a Persian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and the study of celestial movements.
Another historical figure with this name was Perian al-Isfahani (c. 970-1039 CE), a renowned poet and scholar from Isfahan, Iran, known for his mastery of Arabic literature and his innovative poetic style.
In the realm of music, Perian Qurban (1880-1945) was a celebrated Iranian singer and composer who played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting traditional Persian music in the early 20th century.
Moving to more recent times, Perian Fen (1906-1989) was a prominent Iranian painter and sculptor whose works were heavily influenced by Iranian folklore and mythology, often depicting mythical creatures and celestial beings.
Lastly, Perian Hosseini (1937-2022) was a celebrated Iranian actress who graced the silver screen for over six decades, becoming an icon of Iranian cinema and a beloved cultural figure in her home country.
While the name Perian may have its roots in ancient Persian mythology and literature, it has transcended its origins and has been embraced by individuals across various cultures and time periods, each leaving their unique imprint on history through their achievements and contributions.
People
Perian + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Perian 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
Perian: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Perian?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 57 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Perian 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 6,013,234 US residents.
Is Perian a common name?
We classify Perian as "Very Rare". It ranks above 56.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 73 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Perian most popular?
The single biggest year for Perian was 1960, when 53 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Perian is about 66 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Perian in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Perian a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Perian 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.
Is Perian still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Perian in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Perian can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Perian?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Perian at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.