UK girl's name
Persis
A feminine name of Persian origin, meaning "from Persis, a part of ancient Iran".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Persis is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Persis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5691, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2009 to 2014. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Persis. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Persis ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 4 girls were registered as Persis.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Persis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5691
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Persis mean?
The name Persis is derived from the ancient Persian language and culture. It dates back to the time of the Persian Empire in the 6th century BCE. The name is believed to be a feminine form of the Old Persian name Parsa, which referred to the region of Persia (modern-day Iran).
Persis was originally a title given to noble women in ancient Persia. The earliest recorded reference to the name can be found in the Bible's New Testament. In the Book of Romans, chapter 16, verse 12, a woman named Persis is mentioned as a respected member of the early Christian community in Rome.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Persis was Persis, the daughter of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire. She lived in the 6th century BCE. Another notable Persis was Persis, the wife of Darius III, the last king of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, who lived in the 4th century BCE.
In the Middle Ages, the name Persis gained popularity among Christians in Europe, particularly in countries like England and France. It was often given as a nod to the biblical reference in the Book of Romans.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Persis in modern times was Persis Khambatta (1948-1998), an Indian actress and model who gained international recognition for her role in the 1980 film "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." She was also known for her advocacy work for animal rights.
Other notable individuals with the name Persis include:
1. Persis Brodribb (1709-1786), an English botanist and natural historian. 2. Persis Vose (1765-1824), an American poet and writer during the American Revolutionary War period. 3. Persis Lorraine Young (1823-1906), an American educator and abolitionist. 4. Persis Coleman Vose (1802-1885), an American artist and painter known for her still-life paintings. 5. Persis Puddester (1888-1953), a Canadian painter and artist recognized for her landscape and portrait works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Persis over time
The chart below shows babies named Persis registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Persis, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Persis by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Persis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5190 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Persis
- 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
Persis: questions and answers
How popular is the name Persis in the UK right now?
In 2014, Persis was ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Persis most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 4 babies registered as Persis in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Persis?
A feminine name of Persian origin, meaning "from Persis, a part of ancient Iran".
How many people are called Persis in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Persis across the 3 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.