Pierce is an English surname and given name of Norman origin. It is derived from the medieval French word "perce," which means "to pierce or permeate." The name was originally a nickname given to someone who had a pointed nose, perhaps because it resembled a spear.
The name Pierce was first used as a given name in England during the Middle Ages, although it was more commonly used as a surname. In the 17th century, the name began to be used more frequently as a given name, particularly in Ireland and Scotland.
One of the most famous people named Pierce is the American actor and film producer Pierce Brosnan. Born in Ireland in 1953, Brosnan moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s and became known for his role as James Bond in several films throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Today, Pierce is still a relatively uncommon given name, but it remains popular as a surname. It can be spelled in various ways, including Pierce, Pierse, and Pearse. Overall, the name Pierce has a strong, distinctive sound that makes it memorable and unique.
The name Peirce has seen a varying degree of popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by the birth statistics provided.
From 1992 to 2017, there were a total of 94 babies born in the U.S. with the name Peirce. The years with the highest number of births with this name were 1993 and 1998, each with 6 births. Interestingly, the years 1995 and 2000 also had 5 births each, indicating that there might have been periods where the name gained some popularity.
However, the name Peirce did not consistently trend upwards or downwards over time. Instead, it seems to have fluctuated quite a bit from year to year, with the number of births ranging from 5 to 7 in most years. This suggests that while there might be occasional periods where more parents choose this name for their children, it is not a name that has seen consistent, widespread popularity.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can conclude that Peirce is a relatively uncommon name in the United States. While there have been some fluctuations in its popularity over time, it remains a unique choice for parents looking to give their child an distinctive name.