Pessel
A diminutive or pet form of the Hebrew name Feiga.
Name Census estimates that about 88 living Americans carry the first name Pessel. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pessel today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pessel births was 2023 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pessel. 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 Pessel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
88
~ 1 in 3,894,936 Americans
Peak year
2023
11 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#17,037
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Pessel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pessel from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 51 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Pessel remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pessel 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 Pessel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pessels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Pessel
The name Pessel is believed to have originated from the German language, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "pezzil," which means "small bundle" or "parcel." This name was likely given to children as a term of endearment, reflecting their tiny and bundled-up appearance.
During the medieval period, the name Pessel was predominantly found in the Germanic regions of central and western Europe, particularly in areas like modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various legal documents and church records.
While Pessel does not seem to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its German origins and usage during the Middle Ages suggest a connection to the cultural and linguistic traditions of that era. The name's popularity likely stemmed from its affectionate meaning and its association with the German-speaking communities of the time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Pessel was Pessel von Nürnberg, a German artisan and metalworker who lived in the city of Nuremberg in the late 13th century. His intricate metalwork and craftsmanship were highly renowned during his lifetime.
In the 15th century, Pessel Bauer, a farmer and landowner from the Bavarian region of Germany, gained recognition for his innovative agricultural practices and his role in improving crop yields in his community.
During the Renaissance period, Pessel Meister, a German painter and fresco artist, left his mark on various churches and monasteries across southern Germany with his vibrant and intricate religious artworks, many of which still exist today.
In the 17th century, Pessel Hoffmann, a German philosopher and scholar, made significant contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy through his writings and teachings at the University of Heidelberg.
Another notable figure with the name Pessel was Pessel Schneider, a seamstress and entrepreneur from the city of Frankfurt in the 19th century. She gained recognition for her innovative clothing designs and successful business ventures, which paved the way for women's entrepreneurship in her time.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Pessel, reflecting its long-standing presence and cultural significance within the German-speaking regions of Europe.
People
Pessel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pessel 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
Pessel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pessel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 88 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pessel 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 3,894,936 US residents.
Is Pessel a common name?
We classify Pessel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 89 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pessel most popular?
The single biggest year for Pessel was 2023, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pessel is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pessel a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pessel 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.