Pistol
A pistol is a type of handgun, characterized by a barrel with an integral chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French pistolet, meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the English language c. 1570 when early handguns were produced in Europe.
Meaning & Origin of Pistol
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A pistol is a type of handgun, characterized by a barrel with an integral chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French pistolet, meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the English language c. 1570 when early handguns were produced in Europe.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Pistol
As a girl name
Pistol first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2013, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 9 Pistols were born — ranking #10,998 that year. As of 2026, Pistol ranks #16,416 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 19 Pistols have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Pistol first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2010, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2012, when 14 Pistols were born — ranking #5,998 that year. As of 2026, Pistol ranks #9,692 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 63 Pistols 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 Pistol
Phonetically similar names — useful when Pistol is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Pistil
- Pistel
- Pestel
- Postal
- Pistole
- Postel
- Pistool
- Pastel
- Pustule
- Pastille
- Pastil
- Postil
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pistol
What does the name Pistol mean?
How popular is Pistol in 2026?
When was Pistol most popular?
Is Pistol a unisex name?
What names go well with Pistol?
About the name Pistol
Pistol is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2010 and has accumulated 63 births in the dataset. Pistol's peak popularity came in 2012 when it ranked #5,998. Use the chart and map above to compare Pistol's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2012 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all boy 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.