Boy Names Starting with P

The Selection of P Names for Boys

• Paavo: The Finnish variant of Paul. It traces back to the same Latin root and means "small."
• Pablo: The Spanish form of Paul, based on the Latin word for "small" or "the younger."
• Paco: A Spanish short form of Francisco. Its origin lies in the name Francis (Franziskus), meaning "the little Frenchman."
• Parker: An English name that was originally an occupational title for a park keeper.
• Pascal: Derives from the Latin "paschalis," which means "relating to Easter" or "pertaining to Passover."
• Patrice: The French form of Patrick.
• Patrick: Traces back to the Latin "patricius," meaning "of noble birth" or "nobleman."
• Paul: Traces back to the Roman name Paulus; the underlying Latin word means "small" or "the younger."
• Pavel: The Slavic form of Paul.
• Peer: (Also spelled Per). The Scandinavian variant of Peter, tracing back to the Greek word for "rock."
• Pelle: A Swedish diminutive usually derived from Per (Peter), which has established itself as an independent given name.
• Pepe: A Spanish short form. It traces back to José (Josef); the Hebrew root means "God will add."
• Peter: Originates from the Greek word "petros," meaning "rock" or "stone."
• Phelan: An Irish given name tracing back to the Old Irish word "faol," meaning "little wolf."
• Phil: A common English and German short form of Philipp or Philemon, based on the Greek word for "love" or "friend."
• Phileas: Traces back to the Greek word "philein" (to love) and means "the loving one" or "the friend."
• Philipp: A name of Greek origin (Philippos), composed of the words for "friend" and "horse."
• Philo: A short form of names beginning with "Phil-". The underlying Greek word means "friend."
• Phineas: A name of Hebrew origin. The exact meaning of the word is not definitively settled; common interpretations assume "oracle" or "the Nubian."
• Phoenix: Originates from Greek. The word originally referred to a dark red or purple color and is closely tied to the mythological firebird.
• Piet: The Dutch short form of Peter. Accordingly, the name shares the meaning "rock" or "stone."
• Pius: A Latin name meaning "pious," "dutiful," or "reverent."

Pronunciation and Spelling: What to Keep in Mind with the Letter P

In some German dialects, the letters P and B are hardly distinguished in speech. If you live in such a region, you should say the given name out loud along with your last name to avoid misunderstandings. Otherwise, a hard initial P can quickly sound like a soft B.

Another point is spelling: the P sound at the beginning of a name can be spelled as a simple P or as Ph (as in Philipp or Phileas). In everyday life, at administrative offices, or in school, this often requires brief spelling out. Consider whether an unambiguous spelling like Paul or Peter is more important to you, or whether occasional spelling out with names like Phil does not bother you.

Also pay attention to the transition to the last name. If the given name ends with the same sound that the last name begins with (for example, Philipp Peters), it can stumble or blur together when spoken. A strong initial P sound in a given name often harmonizes very well with last names starting with vowels or softer consonants such as L, M, or N.

How to Find the Right Name

If you are specifically looking for boy names starting with P, you can set the corresponding filter for the first letter in the HeyName app. Rate the suggestions independently as "Favorite," "Maybe," or "Not a match." As soon as both of you mark the same name as a favorite, it appears as a mutual match. This creates a shortlist that you can then discuss together. Use the opportunity to test the given name directly with your last name and any middle name to check the overall sound.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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