Petronilla
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.
- Italian
- Ancient Roman
Meaning & Origin of Petronilla
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 →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Italian
- Ancient Roman
The Story of Petronilla
The earliest SSA record of Petronilla as a baby girl name dates back to 1907, when 5 babies received it. 1927 was its biggest year on record, with 7 newborns named Petronilla — #3,875 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 42% of all recorded Petronillas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1935 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 57 Petronillas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Petronilla
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Petronilla. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Petronilla
Phonetically similar names — useful when Petronilla is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Petronella
- Petronia
- Paternally
- Petrella
- Petrocelli
- Petrucelli
- Paranoia
- Patronage
- Patronym
- Petrina
- Petrillo
- Potentilla
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Petronilla
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How popular is Petronilla in 2026?
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About the name Petronilla
Petronilla is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1907 and has accumulated 57 births in the dataset. Petronilla's peak popularity came in 1927 when it ranked #3,875. Use the chart and map above to compare Petronilla's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1927 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- 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.