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Precious

Quick answerThe name Precious derives from the Latin word "pretiosus," meaning "of great value" or "costly," and entered English as an adjective describing something highly valued before being adopted as a given name.

Latin · Girl · 2 syllables

P
Top 5,000

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderGirl
US Rank#3,158
TrendStable
Peak year2001
Syllables2
OriginLatin
LanguageEnglish (African)
CultureEnglish (African), African American (Modern)
ReligionChristian
Letters8
Numerology7 Chaldean 8
Global rank#439

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Precious

The name Precious derives from the Latin word "pretiosus," meaning "of great value" or "costly," and entered English as an adjective describing something highly valued before being adopted as a given name.

Cross-referenced with Behind the Name and Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

The name Precious derives from the Latin word "pretiosus," meaning "of great value" or "costly," and entered English as an adjective describing something highly valued before being adopted as a given name. The name is primarily used in English-speaking Christian communities, particularly in African American culture from the late 20th century onward, with increased popularity following its use in literature and film.

Precious currently ranks #3,158 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2001.

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Sibling name ideas

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