Petronella
Petronilla is a Late Latin feminine given name. The name is a diminutive form of Petronia, itself the feminine form of Petronius, a Roman family name. Saint Petronilla is an early Roman saint, later interpreted as the daughter of Saint Peter. She became the patron saint of the Frankish kings, and her chapel became the burial place for French kings.
Meaning & Origin of Petronella
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Petronilla is a Late Latin feminine given name. The name is a diminutive form of Petronia, itself the feminine form of Petronius, a Roman family name. Saint Petronilla is an early Roman saint, later interpreted as the daughter of Saint Peter. She became the patron saint of the Frankish kings, and her chapel became the burial place for French kings.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Petronella
Petronella first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1884, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1916, when 19 Petronellas were born — ranking #1,805 that year. As of 2026, Petronella ranks #4,673 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 335 Petronellas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Petronella
Phonetically similar names — useful when Petronella is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Petrocelli
- Petronia
- Petrella
- Petrucelli
- Paternally
- Petronas
- Petrone
- Citronella
- Petrina
- Prunella
- Petrelli
- Petronius
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Petronella
What does the name Petronella mean?
How popular is Petronella in 2026?
When was Petronella most popular?
In which U.S. states is Petronella most popular?
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About the name Petronella
Petronella is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1884 and has accumulated 335 births in the dataset. Petronella's peak popularity came in 1916 when it ranked #1,805. Use the chart and map above to compare Petronella's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1916 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all girl 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.