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

Popularity of Pricilla by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Pricilla is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 14 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Pricilla.

The history of the first name Pricilla

The name Pricilla originated from the Latin name Priscilla, which was a Roman family name derived from the word "priscus" meaning "ancient" or "old-fashioned." It was a common name among Roman women in ancient times.

In the New Testament of the Bible, Priscilla is mentioned as the wife of Aquila and a follower of Christianity. She is described as a teacher and missionary who helped spread the Christian faith in the 1st century AD. This early appearance of the name contributed to its popularity among early Christians.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Pricilla comes from the 3rd century AD, when a Christian martyr named Priscilla was executed in Rome during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian. Her feast day is celebrated on January 16th by the Catholic Church.

During the Middle Ages, the name Pricilla was relatively uncommon in Europe, but it experienced a revival in the Renaissance period. One notable bearer of the name was Priscilla Mullins, who was among the passengers on the Mayflower voyage to America in 1620. She was one of the first English women to arrive in the Plymouth Colony.

Another famous Priscilla was Priscilla Wakefield (1751-1832), an English Quaker author and philanthropist who wrote educational books for children and advocated for women's rights and education.

In the 19th century, the name gained popularity due to the novel "The Courtship of Miles Standish" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, published in 1858. The story featured a character named Priscilla Mullins, who was based on the historical figure from the Mayflower voyage.

One of the most renowned bearers of the name in modern times was Priscilla Presley (born 1945), the former wife of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley. Their marriage and divorce in the 1970s were widely publicized, making the name Priscilla even more widely recognized.

Other notable Priscillas throughout history include Priscilla Chan (born 1985), an American philanthropist and wife of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the stage name of Australian drag queen and entertainer Priscilla Bellerby (born 1944).

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

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

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