UK name, mostly girls
Peri
A Persian feminine name meaning fairy or supernatural being.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Peri is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Peri popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 16 births.
This profile covers 193 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 192 living people in the UK are called Peri. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Peri ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 16 girls were registered as Peri.
- • About 192 living people in the UK are estimated to have Peri as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.0% of Peri registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3318
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2022
16 births
Estimated living
192
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Peri
In England and Wales birth records, Peri has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 2.0% of registrations are for boys and 98.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Peri registered for boys
- Ranked #2,419 in 1998
- 4 boys registered in 1998
- Peak: 1998 (4 births)
Peri registered for girls
- Ranked #3,318 in 2024
- 7 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (16 births)
Meaning
What does Peri mean?
The name Peri is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, where it means "fairy" or "supernatural being." It dates back to ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran, and was likely used as a name for children who were considered particularly beautiful or enchanting.
In Persian mythology, peris were depicted as benevolent, fairy-like creatures who lived in a parallel world and could interact with humans. They were often associated with nature and were believed to have magical powers. The name Peri may have been given to children in the hope that they would be blessed with the qualities of these mythical beings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peri appears in the epic poem Shahnameh, written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In the poem, Peri is mentioned as the name of a beautiful princess who was sought after by many suitors.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Peri. One of the most famous was Peri Bon, a 13th-century mystic and poet from Persia who wrote extensively about Sufism and spiritual enlightenment. Her works were widely read and influential in the Islamic world.
Another notable Peri was Peri Khan Khanum, a 16th-century Mughal princess who was known for her extraordinary beauty and intelligence. She was the daughter of Emperor Akbar and played an important role in the political and cultural life of the Mughal Empire.
In the 19th century, Peri was the name of a famous Iranian actress and dancer, Peri Banoo, who performed in the court of the Qajar dynasty. She was renowned for her grace and talent and was considered one of the most celebrated performers of her time.
In more recent times, Peri Pouran was an Iranian painter and sculptor who lived from 1910 to 1992. She was a pioneer of modern art in Iran and is remembered for her innovative use of traditional Persian motifs and techniques in her works.
Another notable Peri was Peri Avraham, an Israeli writer and activist who was born in 1933. She was a prominent figure in the struggle for women's rights and worked tirelessly to promote peace and understanding between different cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Peri over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Peri in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Peri, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Peri by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Peri was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3036 | 43 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3215 | 74 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3864 | 33 | 8 |
| 1990s | #1617 | 43 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Peri
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Peri: questions and answers
How popular is the name Peri in the UK right now?
In 2024, Peri was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Peri most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 16 babies registered as Peri in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Peri?
A Persian feminine name meaning fairy or supernatural being.
How many people are called Peri in the UK?
A total of 193 babies have been registered as Peri across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.