Pernetta
A feminine given name derived from the French phrase "par né", meaning "noble-born".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Pernetta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pernetta today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pernetta births was 1924 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pernetta. 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 Pernetta is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Pernettas were born before 1971.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Pernetta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1924
5 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1963 SSA rank
#7,355
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Pernetta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pernetta from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 5 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
Pernetta 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 Pernetta 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 Pernetta
The given name Pernetta is believed to have originated from the Latin word "petra," meaning "rock" or "stone." It is a feminine form of the name Peter, which also derives from the same Latin root. The name was likely first used during the early centuries of Christianity, particularly in regions with strong Roman cultural influence.
Pernetta gained popularity as a Christian name, possibly influenced by the biblical reference to Saint Peter as the "rock" upon which the Church was built. However, its exact origins and early usage remain somewhat obscure due to the scarcity of historical records from that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pernetta can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various medieval documents from parts of Italy, France, and Spain. During this period, the name was often spelled with variations such as Perneta, Pernette, or Perneta.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pernetta. One of the earliest recorded was Pernetta of Saxe-Lauenburg (1504-1567), a German noblewoman who served as the Abbess of the Cistercian Convent in Zeven. Another prominent figure was Pernetta Kunitz (1610-1678), a German-born painter and calligrapher renowned for her religious artworks.
In the 18th century, Pernetta Booth (1725-1789) was a British actress and writer who gained recognition for her performances on the London stage. She was also known for her published writings, including memoirs and plays.
Another noteworthy individual was Pernetta Shaffer (1828-1905), an American educator and activist who dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for women and advocating for women's rights.
In more recent times, Pernetta Deeken (1910-1989) was a German artist and sculptor known for her abstract and figurative works, many of which can be found in public spaces and galleries throughout Germany.
While the name Pernetta has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has persisted as a unique and distinctive given name, particularly in regions with Latin and Christian cultural influences. Its connection to the biblical figure of Saint Peter and the symbolism of "rock" or "stone" imbue the name with a sense of strength and endurance.
People
Pernetta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pernetta 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
Pernetta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pernetta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pernetta 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Pernetta a common name?
We classify Pernetta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pernetta most popular?
The single biggest year for Pernetta was 1924, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pernetta is about 65 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 Pernetta in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Pernetta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pernetta 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 Pernetta still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Pernetta 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 Pernetta 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 many people are named Pernetta?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Pernetta, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.