Find out how popular the first name Poe has been for the last 14 years (from 2010 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Poe by gender

Based on the last 14 years of data, Poe is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 76% of people named Poe being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name Poe.

The history of the first name Poe

The name Poe is believed to have originated from the Celtic word "peau" or "peu", which means "small" or "little". Its roots can be traced back to ancient Gaelic and Brythonic languages spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poe can be found in the ancient Irish text, the "Annals of Ulster", which mentions a figure named "Póe mac Fir Bogaidi" in the year 738 AD. This suggests that the name was in use among the Celtic populations of Ireland at least as early as the 8th century.

The name Poe gained prominence in the medieval period, particularly in Scotland and Northern England. One notable figure from this era was Poe of Fawdon, a 12th-century Scottish knight who fought alongside King David I of Scotland during the Battle of the Standard in 1138.

In the 15th century, the name Poe appeared in the English county of Kent, where a family by the name of Poe resided in the village of Penshurst. This family produced a notable figure named Poe Penrhyn (c. 1430-1490), who served as a member of the Privy Council under King Edward IV.

Perhaps the most famous individual with the first name Poe was the American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), renowned for his works of poetry and short stories, including "The Raven" and "The Fall of the House of Usher". His literary contributions significantly influenced the genres of Gothic fiction and detective fiction.

Other notable individuals with the first name Poe throughout history include:

1. Poe Chiu (1934-2018), a Chinese-American engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded the technology company Silicon Graphics.
2. Poe Kilik (born 1954), a Marshallese politician and former President of the Marshall Islands from 2000 to 2008.
3. Poe Dameron (fictional), a prominent character in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, played by actor Oscar Isaac.
4. Poe Dita (1892-1966), an Albanian writer and poet who was a prominent figure in the Rilindja Kombëtare, the Albanian National Renaissance movement.
5. Poe Lluria (1916-1998), a Spanish painter and sculptor known for his surrealist works and association with the avant-garde movement in Barcelona.

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 Poe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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