Pepper
Pepper is a given name, nickname, and surname. Notable people with the name include:
- English
Meaning & Origin of Pepper
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Pepper is a given name, nickname, and surname. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Pepper
As a girl name
Pepper first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1947, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2014: 161 births, good for #1,415 nationwide. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 39% of all recorded Peppers. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,626 among girl names with 128 births, holding steady (-2%). In total, more than 3K Peppers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Pepper on the record books as a boy name in 1937, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1957, when 13 Peppers were born — ranking #2,275 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Peppers. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2023 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 245 Peppers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Pepper
Phonetically similar names — useful when Pepper 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 Pepper
What does the name Pepper mean?
What is the origin of the name Pepper?
How popular is Pepper in 2026?
When was Pepper most popular?
In which U.S. states is Pepper most popular?
Is Pepper a unisex name?
What names go well with Pepper?
About the name Pepper
Pepper is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1947 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Pepper's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #951. Use the chart and map above to compare Pepper's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.