Girl · #9,545 in 2026

Panda

The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs and shoulders. Its body is rotund; adult individuals weigh 100 to 115 kg and are typically 1.2 to 1.9 m long. It is sexually dimorphic, with males being typically 10–20% larger than females.

Current Rank
#9,545
Peak Rank
#3,379 (1964)
Total Babies
88
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1955
First Year
1986
Last Year
1964
Peak Year
#3379
Peak Rank
88
Total Count
12
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Panda

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs and shoulders. Its body is rotund; adult individuals weigh 100 to 115 kg and are typically 1.2 to 1.9 m long. It is sexually dimorphic, with males being typically 10–20% larger than females.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The word panda was borrowed into English from French, but no conclusive explanation of the origin of the French word panda has been found. The closest candidate is the Nepali word ponya , possibly referring to the adapted wrist bone of the red panda , which is native to Nepal. In many older sources, the name "panda" or "common panda" refers to the red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ), which was described some 40 years earlier and over that period was the only animal known as a panda. The binomial name Ailuropoda melanoleuca means black and white (melanoleuca) cat-foot (ailuropoda). Since the earliest

The Story of Panda

Panda first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1955, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1964, when 15 Pandas were born — ranking #3,379 that year. As of 2026, Panda ranks #9,545 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 88 Pandas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
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MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
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WY
NE
MO
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MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
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NC
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OK
LA
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Top 10
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500+
No data

Names that sound like Panda

Phonetically similar names — useful when Panda is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Pandy
  • Panta
  • Penda
  • Pinda
  • Pandu
  • Punda
  • Banda
  • Panty
  • Pandas
  • Pander
  • Pantie
  • Panto

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Panda

What does the name Panda mean?
The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs and shoulders. Its body is rotund; adult individuals weigh 100 to 115 kg and are typically 1.2 to 1.9 m long. It is sexually dimorphic, with males being typically 10–20% larger than females.
How popular is Panda in 2026?
In 2026, Panda ranks #9,545 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Panda most popular?
Panda reached its peak popularity in 1964, ranking #3,379 that year with 15 babies given the name.
Is Panda a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Panda is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Panda?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Panda include Valena, Orline, Lucendia. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Valena
Peak #3379
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Orline
Peak #3379
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Lucendia
Peak #3379
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Merriel
Peak #3379
👧
Miyako
Peak #3379
👧
Lillan
Peak #3379
👧
Dwight
Peak #3379
👧
Gurtie
Peak #3379

About the name Panda

Panda is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1955 and has accumulated 88 births in the dataset. Panda's peak popularity came in 1964 when it ranked #3,379. Use the chart and map above to compare Panda's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.