Peretz is a Hebrew masculine given name that means "liberator" or "redeemer". It is derived from the root word "p-r-tz", which means "to break out" or "to free". The name Peretz is often associated with the biblical figure of Perez, one of the sons of Judah and Tamar in the Book of Genesis. According to the story, Perez was born during a difficult labor and his mother named him Perez, meaning "he broke forth", because he was the first twin to be born.
The name Peretz has been popular among Ashkenazi Jews for centuries and it is still widely used today. It is often shortened to Peri or Petzi as a nickname. Some notable individuals with the name Peretz include Peretz Smolenskin, a Ukrainian-born Hebrew writer who was one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew literature, and Peretz Markish, a Ukrainian-Jewish poet and playwright known for his Yiddish poetry.
The name Peretz has seen fluctuations in popularity over the years in the United States, according to the data provided.
In 1987, there were only 5 babies named Peretz born that year. However, by 2007, this number had doubled to 6 births. The next few years saw a steady increase: 9 births in 2011, followed by 7 in 2012 and another peak of 9 in 2013.
After 2013, the popularity of the name Peretz started to fluctuate more significantly. There were 6 births in 2014, but then it jumped to a high of 14 in 2015. This number continued to rise with 16 births in 2016 and 10 births in 2017.
However, since 2017, the popularity of the name Peretz has decreased again. There were only 6 births in 2018 and 8 in 2019. The most recent data shows a rise once more with 15 births in 2021 and 11 in 2022, followed by a drop to 7 births in 2023.
In total, there have been 129 babies named Peretz born in the United States between 1987 and 2023. These statistics show how the popularity of this name has ebbed and flowed over time, with periods of significant increase followed by decline. Despite these fluctuations, the name Peretz remains a unique choice for parents looking to give their child a distinctive name.