Pietra
From the Italian word for "stone", signifying strength and durability.
Name Census estimates that about 180 living Americans carry the first name Pietra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pietra today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pietra births was 2018 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pietra. 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
180
~ 1 in 1,904,191 Americans
Peak year
2018
16 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,381
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Pietra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pietra from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 103 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Pietra remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pietra 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 Pietra 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 Pietra
The name Pietra finds its origins in the Italian language, derived from the Italian word "pietra," which translates to "stone" or "rock." This name has its roots in the ancient Roman culture, as Romans were known for their skilled masonry and architectural prowess involving stonework.
The name Pietra was likely used as a reference to one's steadfastness, strength, or endurance, akin to the resilience of a rock. It may have been bestowed upon individuals who displayed these qualities or worked with stone in some capacity, such as stonemasons or sculptors.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pietra can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in historical records from the Italian city-state of Florence. During this time, the name was predominantly used within the Italian peninsula.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pietra. One such figure was Pietra Grigioni (1543-1602), an Italian painter and engraver from the Renaissance period, known for her religious artwork and portraits.
Another notable Pietra was Pietra Melara (1684-1768), an Italian painter and sculptor from the Baroque era, renowned for her intricate carvings and sculptures adorning churches in Rome.
In the literary realm, Pietra Ligorio (1498-1583) was an Italian architect, antiquarian, and writer who authored several influential works on ancient Roman architecture and monuments.
Moving forward in time, Pietra Caprina (1845-1917) was an Italian educator and advocate for women's rights, who played a significant role in establishing educational opportunities for women in Italy during the late 19th century.
Lastly, Pietra Rivoli (born 1952) is a contemporary American economist and author, best known for her book "The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy," which explores the global supply chain of the garment industry.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Pietra throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields, from art and literature to education and economics.
People
Pietra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pietra 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
Pietra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pietra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 180 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pietra 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 1,904,191 US residents.
Is Pietra a common name?
We classify Pietra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 182 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pietra most popular?
The single biggest year for Pietra was 2018, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pietra is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pietra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pietra 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.