Find out how popular the first name Pierce has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Pierce by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Pierce is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Pierce being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 536 male babies and 22 female babies born with the name Pierce.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 22 baby girls were named Pierce in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Pierce

Pierce is an English masculine given name derived from the Old French name Pierre, which itself comes from the Late Latin name Petrus, meaning "rock" or "stone." The name Petrus is derived from the Ancient Greek name Πέτρος (Petros), an important Biblical name.

The name Pierce has its origins in ancient times and was popular among early Christians, as it was the name given to the Apostle Peter by Jesus Christ, one of the most significant figures in Christianity. Peter was known as the "rock" upon which the Christian church would be built.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Pierce is in the 12th century in England, where it was spelled "Piers" or "Pieres." It gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in areas with strong French influence, such as England and parts of Europe.

Some notable historical figures with the name Pierce include Pierce Butler (1744-1822), an American politician and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the U.S. Constitution. Another was Pierce Penniless (1592-1670), an English writer and poet.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with individuals like Pierce Egan (1772-1849), an English author and boxing writer, and Pierce Mease (1765-1836), an American physician and naturalist.

Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He is remembered for his efforts to preserve the Union and avoid civil war, though his presidency was ultimately overshadowed by the growing tensions between the North and South.

Pierce Butler (1866-1939) was an American lawyer and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1939.

Throughout history, the name Pierce has been a reminder of the Apostle Peter's significance in Christianity and has been borne by many notable individuals, particularly in the United States and England.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Pierce was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pierce, please contact us.

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