Pecola Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Pecola is a name of African American English origin, created by Toni Morrison for her novel 'The Bluest Eye.' It carries the meaning of being peculiar or unique. The name has evolved from the concept of 'peculiar' in Old English and gained prominence in the late 20th century through literature. Pecola represents themes of identity and societal perception, and it has no biblical relevance.
The name Pecola is most popular in Georgia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Pecola has been stalled for female in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in South. Across generations, 'Pecola' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1888th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2274th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4831st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11362nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22013th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Pecola' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Pecola"
Pronunciation
/pɪˈkoʊlə/
Origin
African American English
Etymology
The name Pecola is believed to have been created by author Toni Morrison for her novel 'The Bluest Eye.' It is thought to be derived from the word 'peculiar' or intended to evoke a sense of uniqueness.
Meaning
peculiar, unique
Language Evolution
Pecola (20th century), Peculiar (Old English)
Historical Usage
The name Pecola gained popularity with the publication of Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' in 1970, where it was used for the main character.
Variants & Derivatives
Pecola, Pecolie
Modern Popularity & Image
Pecola is often associated with the themes of identity and societal perception, largely due to its literary roots.
Famous People
Pecola Breedlove (fictional character from 'The Bluest Eye')
📊 Pecola Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Pecola Name Visualizations
✨ Pecola Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 28 peak births in 1920
Geographic Spread
Popular across 3 US states, with strongest presence in Georgia
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 5 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Pecola"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Pecola"
"Pecola" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1888th of 9107 | 349 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2274th of 9204 | 258 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4831st of 12526 | 126 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11362nd of 19264 | 33 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22013th of 27321 | 12 |
Regional Popularity of "Pecola" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Pecola" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
49.37% 1168th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
61.71% 1452nd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Pecola"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Pecola" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.