UK boy's name
Pernell
An English masculine name from medieval times, derived from a surname.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pernell is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Pernell popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2863, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.
Pernell is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Pernell. 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 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pernell ranked #2863 for boys in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Pernell.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pernell as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2863
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Pernell mean?
The name Pernell is a variant spelling of the French name Pernelle, which is a feminine form of the name Petronilla. The name Petronilla is derived from the Latin name Petronia, which comes from the Roman family name Petronius. Petronius is thought to have been derived from the Latin word "petra" meaning "rock" or "stone".
Pernell has its origins in medieval France, and it was a relatively common name among French women during the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have been introduced to England by French settlers in the 11th century, following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Pernell can be found in the 12th-century English chronicle "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle". The chronicle mentions a woman named Pernell, who was the wife of a Norman nobleman named Ralph de Gaugy.
In the 13th century, there was a famous French mystic and religious writer named Pernelle de Rupelmonde, also known as Pernelle of Rupelmonde. She was born around 1200 and is known for her writings on spirituality and mysticism.
Another notable historical figure with the name Pernell was Pernell Whetcombe, an English Benedictine nun who lived in the 15th century. She was the prioress of the Benedictine convent at Romsey in Hampshire, England, and is known for her writings on religious subjects.
In the 16th century, there was a French poet and playwright named Pernette du Guillet (1520-1545). She is best known for her collection of poems entitled "Rymes", which was published in 1545.
Pernell Stout (1788-1867) was an American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in the early 19th century.
While Pernell has been a relatively uncommon name in modern times, it has a rich history and has been borne by several notable figures throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Pernell by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pernell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #2863 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Pernell
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Pernell: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pernell in the UK right now?
In 1996, Pernell was ranked #2863 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Pernell most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Pernell in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pernell?
An English masculine name from medieval times, derived from a surname.
How many people are called Pernell in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Pernell across the 1 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.