Pistol
A fierce nickname inspired by the small handheld weapon.
Name Census estimates that about 81 living Americans carry the first name Pistol. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 76.8% of registrations being male. The average person named Pistol today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pistol births was 2013 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pistol. 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 Pistol. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
81
~ 1 in 4,231,535 Americans
Peak year
2013
18 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2017 SSA rank
#10,499
Tracked since 2010
Gender
Gender distribution for Pistol
Pistol is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 82 total registrations, 63 (76.8%) were male and 19 (23.2%) were female.
Pistol as a male name
- Ranked #10,499 in 2017
- 7 male births in 2017
- Peak: 2012 (14 births)
Pistol as a female name
- Ranked #18,488 in 2015
- 5 female births in 2015
- Peak: 2013 (9 births)
Popularity
Pistol: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Pistol 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 Pistol during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 63 | 19 | 82 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Pistol
Pistol is an unusual given name that originated in the early modern period, likely derived from the word for the handheld firearm. The name's origins can be traced back to Italy, where the word "pistola" was used to refer to a small, compact firearm. This word itself is believed to have roots in the Italian city of Pistoia, which was renowned for its metalworking and weapons production.
While the name Pistol may seem peculiar today, it was not uncommon during the 16th and 17th centuries to name children after objects or concepts that held significance or represented strength. The rise of gunpowder weapons during this era may have influenced some parents to choose this name, perhaps as a symbol of power or protection.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pistol can be found in William Shakespeare's play "Henry V." In the play, a character named Pistol, a former soldier and follower of Sir John Falstaff, appears as a comic relief figure. This literary reference suggests that the name was already in use, at least as a nickname or surname, during the late 16th century.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the given name Pistol. One such person was Pistol Jones (1786-1860), an American frontiersman and explorer known for his adventures in the American West. Another was Pistol Pete Maravich (1937-1988), a legendary basketball player at Louisiana State University and in the NBA, who earned his nickname for his impressive shooting skills.
In the 19th century, Pistol Davis (1831-1870) was a notable American outlaw and gunfighter who gained notoriety during the American Old West era. Additionally, Pistol Allen (1837-1905) was a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early firearms and ammunition.
Lastly, Pistol Butch (1892-1924) was an American criminal and bank robber who gained infamy during the early 20th century for his involvement in several high-profile heists and his daring escapes from law enforcement.
While the name Pistol may have had its origins in the world of weaponry and warfare, it has also been associated with individuals who embodied courage, adventurousness, and a rebellious spirit throughout history.
People
Pistol + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pistol 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
Pistol: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pistol?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 81 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pistol 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 4,231,535 US residents.
Is Pistol a common name?
We classify Pistol as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 82 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pistol most popular?
The single biggest year for Pistol was 2013, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pistol is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pistol a male name?
Yes, 76.8% of people registered as Pistol in the SSA data are male. 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.