Pierre is a classic French given name derived from the Greek name Peter, which means "rock" or "stone". This name has been widely used in France and other French-speaking countries for centuries.
The name Pierre was popularized by Saint Peter, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles, who was often depicted as a strong and steadfast individual. In the New Testament, Jesus gives Peter the nickname "Cephas," which means "rock" or "stone" in Aramaic, thus emphasizing his importance and reliability.
The name Pierre has been worn by numerous notable figures throughout history, such as Pierre Abelard, a medieval French philosopher and logician; Pierre Curie, a Nobel laureate physicist who discovered radioactivity alongside his wife Marie Skłodowska Curie; and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a Canadian politician who served as the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984.
In France, the name Pierre is often associated with strength, resilience, and wisdom. It is also considered to be a timeless classic that remains popular today among parents looking for traditional French names for their sons.
The name Pierre has been a popular choice among parents in the United States for over a century. Between 1880 and 2023, there have been a total of 18,749 births with the first name Pierre.
Looking at the data year by year, we can observe several trends. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of births with the name Pierre fluctuated significantly, ranging from as low as 6 in 1890 to as high as 71 in 1920.
However, starting in the 1950s, there was a noticeable increase in the popularity of the name Pierre. In 1954, there were 167 births with this name, and by 1960, that number had risen to 241. This trend continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s, reaching a peak in 1980 with 282 births.
After a brief decline in the early 1990s, the popularity of the name Pierre began to rise again. In 1997, there were 183 births, and by 2008, that number had increased to 203. The popularity of the name has remained relatively stable since then, with around 150 to 200 births per year.
In conclusion, while the popularity of the name Pierre has ebbed and flowed over the past century and a half, it remains a well-loved choice among American parents. Its enduring appeal is a testament to its timelessness and versatility.