UK girl's name
Priscila
Ancient origin meaning old or venerable.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Priscila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Priscila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2019. 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 7 living people in the UK are called Priscila. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Priscila ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Priscila.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Priscila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Priscila mean?
The given name Priscila is derived from the Latin Prisca, meaning "ancient" or "venerable." Its roots can be traced back to the Roman era, where it was a relatively common name among Roman women.
The name Priscila first appeared in early Christian texts, particularly in the New Testament. In the book of Romans, Saint Paul mentions a woman named Priscila, who, along with her husband Aquila, was a tentmaker and a follower of Christianity. This reference dates back to the 1st century AD.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Priscila is found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus. He mentions a woman named Priscila who was a member of the imperial family during the reign of Emperor Claudius in the 1st century AD.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Priscila. One of the most famous is Priscila, the wife of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruled from 284 to 305 AD. She is known for her influence on her husband's policies and her support for the early Christian community.
Another notable Priscila was Priscila de Andrade (1584-1647), a Portuguese noblewoman and philanthropist. She was renowned for her charitable work and her efforts to establish schools and hospitals in Portugal.
In the 16th century, Priscila Bakes (1551-1616) was a Dutch painter and one of the first women to be admitted to the prestigious Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp. Her works were highly regarded during her lifetime and are now part of several museum collections.
During the 19th century, Priscila Maria Isidora Maulhardt y Prati (1818-1890) was a notable Argentine writer and educator. She founded several schools and was a pioneer in promoting women's education in Argentina.
Lastly, Priscila Presley (born 1945) is an American actress and businesswoman, best known as the former wife of the legendary musician Elvis Presley. She played a significant role in managing and preserving her late husband's estate and legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Priscila over time
The chart below shows babies named Priscila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Priscila, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Priscila by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Priscila 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 | #5591 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3970 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Priscila
- 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
Priscila: questions and answers
How popular is the name Priscila in the UK right now?
In 2019, Priscila was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Priscila most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Priscila in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Priscila?
Ancient origin meaning old or venerable.
How many people are called Priscila in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Priscila across the 2 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.