Percy
Fact sheet
- Name
- Percy
- Gender
- Boy name
- Syllables
- 2
The boys' name Percy has its origins in the 19th century and comes from English.
What does the name Percy mean?
The name Percy has its roots in an old English surname that goes back to the place name 'Percy-en-Auge' in Normandy. Figuratively, the name means 'the one descended from Perci'. Its origins lie in the Old French word Perci, which means 'of Perci'. Additionally, Percy is often used as a short form of Percival, which encompasses the meanings 'the one who crosses the valley' and 'the hard spears'. These derivations come from the Old French components perce, meaning 'to pierce', 'to penetrate', or 'to stab', and val, meaning 'valley'. These elements trace back to the Celtic terms peri for 'spears' and dur for 'hard' or 'steel'. Other variants include Peredur, Perceval, Parzival, Parsifal, and Perce.
Where does the name Percy come from?
The name Percy is a masculine first name that has both Old French and Celtic roots and carries the meaning 'the one descended from Perci'.
How do you pronounce Percy?
The pronunciation of Percy is two syllables and pleasantly soft. The name is pronounced as 'Per-cy' [ˈpɜːsi] or [ˈpɛʁsi], with the bright onset meeting a gentle, friendly ending syllable. The clear 'y' provides a sonorous openness. The gentle articulation gives the name a charming and approachable character. Percy has an elegant and likable sound – it feels youthful, stylish, and exudes an anglophile lightness.
Popularity
In Germany, Percy is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,840th in the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2005 when it reached 827th place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given about 90 times as a first name, which places it 2,566th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,649th.
Nicknames & pet names
Per / Perce / Pers / Pershy / Persus
Similar first names
Famous people
- Alfred Percy Sinnett (writer from England)
- John Percy Vyvian Dacre Balsdon (English historian)
- Percy (locomotive in Thomas and Friends)
- Percy Adlon (director & writer)
- Percy Alfred Helton (American actor)
- Percy Bennett (rugby player from England)
- Percy Bird (English cricketer)
- Percy Bysshe Shelley (English poet)
- Percy Chapman (British cricketer)
- Percy Coldrick (rugby player from Great Britain)
- Percy Coleman (baseball player from the USA)
- Percy Colque (Bolivian football player)
- Percy Commey (boxer from Ghana)
- Percy Davis (Argentinian cricketer)
- Percy Deift (South African mathematician)
- Percy Faith (1908-1976) American-Canadian orchestra conductor
- Percy Gates Morgan (geologist from Australia)
- Percy Goetschius (composer from the USA)
- Percy Greg (writer from Great Britain)
- Percy Hayles (boxer from Jamaica)
Frequently asked questions about the name Percy
What is the origin of the name Percy?
The name Percy has both Old French and Celtic roots. It originates from an old surname that goes back to the place name 'Percy-en-Auge' in Normandy.
What does the name Percy mean?
Percy means 'the one descended from Perci'. It is often understood as a short form of Percival, which means 'the one who crosses the valley' and 'the hard spears'.
How popular is the name Percy?
In the English-speaking world, the name Percy is known but has lost popularity in recent years. It is given less frequently than before, but it has a nostalgic charm.