Pierce Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Pierce has its origins in Old French and Middle English, derived from the name Peter, meaning 'rock' or 'stone'. It evolved through various forms in different languages before taking its modern shape. While it has no direct biblical relevance, it carries significant historical usage dating back to the Middle Ages. It is perceived positively in contemporary times and has notable bearers in popular culture.
The name Pierce is most popular in Georgia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Pierce has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Pierce' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 860th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1056th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1366th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2222nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 847th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 525th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 502nd out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 24966th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11929th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6080th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Pierce' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Pierce"
Pronunciation
/pɪərs/
Origin
Old French, Middle English
Etymology
The name Pierce is derived from the Old French name 'Pierre', which means 'rock' or 'stone'. It is a variant of the name Peter, which ultimately comes from the Greek word 'petros'.
Meaning
rock, stone
Language Evolution
Peter (Greek), Petrus (Latin), Pierre (Old French), Piers (Middle English), Pierce (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Pierce gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages as a common surname and later transitioned into a first name. It became more widely used in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
Piers, Pierre, Peter
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Pierce is viewed as a strong and classic name with a modern appeal, often associated with intelligence and resilience.
Famous People
Pierce Brosnan, Pierce Hawthorne, Pierce Butler
Explore More Pierce Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Pierce"
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 "Pierce"
"Pierce" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 860th of 7545 | 991 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1056th of 6773 | 714 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1366th of 7552 | 613 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2222nd of 10718 | 291 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 847th of 16616 | 2,202 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 525th of 24088 | 7,538 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 502nd of 23106 | 7,022 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 24966th of 27321 | 7 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 11929th of 35406 | 119 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6080th of 30306 | 243 |
Regional Popularity of "Pierce" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
72.32% 1024th/1416 |
59.17% 816th/1379 |
34.45% 815th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
53.21% 828th/1556 |
46.41% 1092nd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
46.38% 1127th/2430 |
60.11% 1715th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
22.12% 815th/3685 |
18.97% 849th/4475 |
17.69% 919th/5194 |
13.08% 826th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.32% 473rd/4582 |
10.19% 526th/5164 |
7.27% 532nd/7313 |
7.52% 561st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
11.24% 448th/3984 |
11.01% 494th/4487 |
7.23% 493rd/6822 |
9.02% 566th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Pierce" by Generation for Female 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) |
- | - |
87.73% 5985th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Pierce"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Pierce" 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.