The name Piero is of Italian origin and means "to pierce" or "to strike". It is derived from the Latin word "percusso", which translates to "to strike or hit". The name has been popular in Italy for centuries, with many historical figures bearing this name.
In medieval Italy, Piero was a common name among the nobility. One of the most famous Pieros from this era was Piero della Francesca, an early Renaissance painter who was active during the 15th century. His work is celebrated for its mathematical perspective and geometric harmony.
The name Piero was also popular among the Medici family, one of Florence's most powerful families during the Renaissance period. Two members of this family shared the name Piero: Piero di Cosimo de' Medici (also known as Piero the Gouty) ruled Florence from 1492 to 1503; and his son, Piero II de' Medici (Piero the Unfortunate), who briefly retook control of Florence in 1527 before being defeated by Emperor Charles V.
Today, Piero remains a popular name in Italy. It has also gained international recognition due to notable individuals such as Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini and Swiss-Italian tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka. Despite its historical associations with power and prestige, the name Piero carries no specific associations with particular personality traits or characteristics. Instead, it stands alone as a timeless and elegant name choice for boys.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Piero has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. The highest number of births with the name Piero occurred in recent years, reaching a peak of 36 births in 2022 and 30 births in 2023. This indicates that the name Piero is currently experiencing increased popularity among parents choosing names for their newborn sons.
Prior to this recent trend, the name Piero had fluctuations in popularity. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were several years with fewer than 10 births each year, including a low of just 5 births in both 1984 and 1991. However, there were also periods during which the name Piero was more common, such as between 1976 and 1983, when there were consistently over 10 births per year.
Since the mid-1990s, the popularity of the name Piero has shown steady growth, with several years having double-digit numbers of births. This trend continued into the 2000s and 2010s, with the highest recorded number of births being in 2022.
Overall, while the name Piero may not have been one of the most popular choices throughout history, it has certainly seen periods of increased popularity over time. As demonstrated by the recent years' statistics, there is currently a notable interest in the name Piero among American parents.