Pepe
Pepe is a pet form of the Spanish and Portuguese name José (Joseph). In the Brazilian context, it is used as a nickname for Pedro (Peter). It is also a surname and a male name.
Meaning & Origin of Pepe
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Pepe is a pet form of the Spanish and Portuguese name José (Joseph). In the Brazilian context, it is used as a nickname for Pedro (Peter). It is also a surname and a male name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Pepe
Pepe first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1957, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1962, when 11 Pepes were born — ranking #2,503 that year. As of 2026, Pepe ranks #10,667 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 155 Pepes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Pepe
Phonetically similar names — useful when Pepe is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pepe
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About the name Pepe
Pepe is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1957 and has accumulated 155 births in the dataset. Pepe's peak popularity came in 1962 when it ranked #2,503. Use the chart and map above to compare Pepe's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1962 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.