Prinston
A baby name blending the elements of "prince" and "stone".
Name Census estimates that about 95 living Americans carry the first name Prinston. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Prinston today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Prinston births was 2013 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Prinston. 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 Prinston. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
95
~ 1 in 3,607,940 Americans
Peak year
2013
10 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,668
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Prinston: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Prinston from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 51 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Prinston remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Prinston 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 Prinston 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 Prinston
The name Prinston is believed to have originated in the early 16th century from the Old English words "prin" meaning "prince" and "ston" meaning "stone" or "rock." It is thought to have been a name given to children born to families of noble or royal lineage, signifying their status as a "prince's stone" or a precious jewel.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Prinston can be found in the 1537 parish records of St. Michael's Church in Coventry, England, where a boy named Prinston Wycliffe was christened. This suggests that the name was in use among the gentry and educated classes of England during the Tudor period.
In the 17th century, a Prinston Fortescue (1617-1681) was a noted English politician and member of Parliament who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Charles II. His prominent position in government and legal circles likely contributed to the continued use and recognition of the name during this time.
Another historical figure bearing the name Prinston was Sir Prinston Wentworth (1737-1809), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. His exploits and bravery in battle may have inspired some families to adopt the name as a symbol of strength and courage.
In the 19th century, Prinston Makepeace (1812-1891) was a wealthy industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester, England, who donated significant funds towards the construction of schools and hospitals in his hometown. His generosity and commitment to public service likely added to the positive associations with the name.
Moving into the 20th century, Prinston Cavendish (1904-1987) was a renowned British explorer and author who wrote several books about his adventures in the Himalayan mountains and the Arctic regions. His fame and celebrity status may have contributed to the continued use of the name during this era.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Prinston. While not a commonly used name today, its origins and historical significance reflect a rich heritage and association with nobility, bravery, and achievement.
People
Prinston + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Prinston 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
Prinston: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Prinston?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 95 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Prinston 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 3,607,940 US residents.
Is Prinston a common name?
We classify Prinston as "Very Rare". It ranks above 63.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 96 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Prinston most popular?
The single biggest year for Prinston was 2013, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Prinston is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Prinston a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Prinston 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.