Poetry
A feminine name derived from the English word meaning literary work expressing experiences in verse.
Name Census estimates that about 199 living Americans carry the first name Poetry. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Poetry today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Poetry births was 2021 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Poetry. 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
199
~ 1 in 1,722,384 Americans
Peak year
2021
18 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,283
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Poetry: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Poetry from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 91 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Poetry remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Poetry 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 Poetry 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 Poetry
The name Poetry is of English origin, derived from the word "poesy," which itself comes from the Old French "poesie" and ultimately from the Greek "poiesis," meaning "making" or "creating." The name first emerged in the late 16th century during the Renaissance period, when the arts and literature flourished across Europe.
Poetry as a given name is closely tied to the literary tradition and the appreciation of poetic expression. It is believed to have been used as a name to honor and celebrate the art of poetry, which was held in high regard during the Renaissance era. The name may have been given to children whose parents had a deep love for poetry or hoped their child would grow to become a talented poet or writer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poetry can be found in the writings of the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616). In his play "Love's Labour's Lost," a character named Poetry is mentioned, though it is not clear if this was intended as an actual name or a symbolic reference.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Poetry. One of the earliest was Poetry Watts (1633-1723), an English poetess and writer who published several collections of verse during the 17th century. Another prominent figure was Poetry Shelley (1792-1822), the wife of the famous Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and a writer in her own right.
In the 19th century, Poetry McGee (1819-1893) was an American abolitionist and activist who worked alongside prominent figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman in the fight against slavery. She was known for her powerful oratory skills and her ability to inspire others through her poetic language.
In the 20th century, Poetry Wilson (1909-1992) was an African American educator and civil rights activist who played a significant role in the desegregation of public schools in the United States. She was also a published poet and author, further exemplifying the connection between her name and her literary pursuits.
Another notable figure was Poetry Finch (1933-2018), a British author and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. Her name became synonymous with the beauty and depth of her poetic compositions.
While not a common name, Poetry has held a special place in the literary and artistic traditions of various cultures, serving as a tribute to the power of poetic expression and the enduring legacy of poetry throughout human history.
People
Poetry + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Poetry 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
Poetry: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Poetry?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 199 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Poetry 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 1,722,384 US residents.
Is Poetry a common name?
We classify Poetry as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 201 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Poetry most popular?
The single biggest year for Poetry was 2021, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Poetry is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Poetry a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Poetry 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.