Petronia
The rock sparrow or rock petronia is a small passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is the only species in the genus Petronia. It breeds on barren rocky hills from Madeira and the Canary Islands east through the Iberian Peninsula and western north Africa, across southern Europe and through southwestern and central Asia to Mongolia and the north and west of China.
- Ancient Roman
Meaning & Origin of Petronia
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The rock sparrow or rock petronia is a small passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is the only species in the genus Petronia. It breeds on barren rocky hills from Madeira and the Canary Islands east through the Iberian Peninsula and western north Africa, across southern Europe and through southwestern and central Asia to Mongolia and the north and west of China.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Ancient Roman
The Story of Petronia
The earliest SSA record of Petronia as a baby girl name dates back to 1919, when 7 babies received it. 1984 was its biggest year on record, with 10 newborns named Petronia — #6,292 in the national rankings. The 1980s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 37% of all recorded Petronias. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1984 (10 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 43 Petronias have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Petronia
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Petronia. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Petronia
Phonetically similar names — useful when Petronia is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Petrone
- Petronius
- Patrone
- Petrina
- Petronas
- Petronella
- Petrini
- Petunia
- Petrolia
- Paranoia
- Patronus
- Boronia
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Petronia
What does the name Petronia mean?
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How popular is Petronia in 2026?
When was Petronia most popular?
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About the name Petronia
Petronia is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1919 and has accumulated 43 births in the dataset. Petronia's peak popularity came in 1984 when it ranked #6,292. Use the chart and map above to compare Petronia's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1984 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- 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.