Petunia
Petunia is a genus of 20 species of flowering plants of South American origin. The popular flower of the same name derived its epithet from the French, which took the word pétun, 'tobacco', from a Tupi–Guarani language. A tender perennial plant, most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrids.
Meaning & Origin of Petunia
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Petunia is a genus of 20 species of flowering plants of South American origin. The popular flower of the same name derived its epithet from the French, which took the word pétun, 'tobacco', from a Tupi–Guarani language. A tender perennial plant, most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrids.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Petunia
Petunia first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2014, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 8 Petunias were born — ranking #11,069 that year. As of 2026, Petunia ranks #11,069 for baby girls with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 32 Petunias have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Petunia
Phonetically similar names — useful when Petunia 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 Petunia
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About the name Petunia
Petunia is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2014 and has accumulated 32 births in the dataset. Petunia's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #11,069. Use the chart and map above to compare Petunia's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2024 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- 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.