Permelia
Feminine
Permelia is a long, old-fashioned name of four syllables, close to Pamela and Parmelia. It belongs to an older America, and its near twin sailed into Australian history.
How old is the name Permelia?
Permelia was already in use when US birth records began in 1880 — it is at least 145 years old. The typical Permelia alive today was born around 1920, making them about 105 years old. Fewer than a hundred people named Permelia are estimated to be alive in the US today — a true one-of-a-kind name.
When was the name Permelia most popular?
Permelia peaked in 1881, reaching #491 nationally. See the whole 1881 chart.
Where it comes from
Origin, sound and short forms
Our story of Permelia
In the early nineteenth century a ship called the Parmelia sailed from England to the far side of the world and landed the first settlers of the Swan River Colony, which grew into Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Permelia sounds almost the same, and in the American record it most likely grew from Pamela, stretched into a longer, statelier shape. Either way it has the air of a name written in a family Bible in careful ink.
Meaningnot established
Not established
No source records the origin of Permelia. It may be a lengthened Pamela or a spelling of Parmelia, and no record says which.
Pronouncing Permelia
per-MEEL-yuh
Stress on the second syllable.
Nicknames for Permelia
Moderate
What the data says
146 years of official birth records
The long climb, and where it stands now
The same years in position rather than babies
- First recorded
- 1880
- Most girls named
- 191820 — the highest on record
- Peak rank
- #491reached in 1881
- Change vs 1959
- 0.0%6 in 1963, from 6
Rank is a position, a count is a headcount, and they move independently — a name can hold its rank while the number of babies behind it falls. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
Permelias among us
Fewer than a hundred people named Permelia are estimated to be alive in the US today — a true one-of-a-kind name.
Estimated from SSA birth records and published actuarial life tables. Method
Is it right for you
Questions parents actually ask
Fashion outlook
Permelia sits outside the current charts, and that is its own kind of answer: naming cycles can only date the names they carried up. A name this rare has no decade stamped on it — it cannot go out of fashion, because it was never in.
Based on 146 years of naming cycles. How we read them
The trade-off
- It is almost certainly unique among the people she will meet.
- Melia and Mellie give two gentle short forms.
- People will write Pamela or Parmelia.
- There is no recorded meaning to give when someone asks.
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Permelia
Feminine
Frequently asked
- How many Permelias are there in the world?
- No country counts the world's names, so there is no worldwide figure — anyone quoting one is estimating. Fewer than a hundred people named Permelia are estimated to be alive in the US today — a true one-of-a-kind name.
- How popular is the name Permelia in 2025?
- Permelia is rarely given in the US today — it does not rank in the top 2000 girl names.
- Will my child share the name Permelia with classmates?
- Permelia will almost certainly be the only one in school.
More P names
The most-given names starting with P, all years combined.
Patricia#1334 · Pamela#2239 · Phyllis#11932 · Peggy#8362 · Paula#853 · Pauline#2957 · Pearl#776 · Paige#346
Looking for what else is popular rather than what resembles Permelia? See the current top 100.
Choosing between Permelia and another name?
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US figures from the Social Security Administration. 1880–2025. Data & methodology
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