The story behind Priscilla
Feminine diminutive form of a Roman cognomen Prīscus, from Latin prīscus (“former, ancient, old-fashioned”). Compare typologically Seneca (< Latin Seneca < senex).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Dutch entry
Borrowed from Latin Priscilla.
Indonesian entry
Ultimately from Latin Priscilla.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /pɹɪˈsɪlə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /ˌprɪˈsɪ.laː/
- Indonesian: /priˈsila/
Popularity
Priscilla ranked #544 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Priscilla
Palmira
Borrowed from Latin Palmȳra, Palmīra, from Ancient Greek Παλμύρα (Palmúra), Παλμίρα (Palmíra), of uncertain origin.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Patrycja
Learned borrowing from Latin Patricia.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Pauliina
From Latin Paulīna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Paulina
From Latin Paulīna, feminine form of Paulīnus, derivative of Paulus, from paulus (“small”). Name of a third-century saint. Learned borrowing from Latin Paulīna. From Latin…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Perpetua
Borrowed from Latin Perpetua, name of an early saint, from perpetuus (“continuous, perpetual”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Prakseda
Learned borrowing from Latin Praxedis, from Ancient Greek πρᾶξις (prâxis).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Priscilla
Barbra
A female given name from Latin, a nonstandard spelling of Barbara. Associated with Barbra Streisand, who changed the spelling of her name from Barbara.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bartolomeu
From Old Galician-Portuguese Bartolomeu, from Latin Bartholomaeus, from Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos), from Aramaic בר תלמי (bar Tolmai, “son of Tolmai”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends U
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Basile
Semi-learned borrowing from Latin Basilius, from Ancient Greek Βασίλειος (Basíleios).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Priscilla
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Absalom
From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”). Learned borrowing from Latin Absālōm, from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length