Priscilla
prih-SIH-luh
The name Priscilla is the Latin diminutive of Prisca, itself from the adjective priscus meaning “ancient” or “venerable.” The -illa suffix adds an affectionate diminutive force, so the full sense is something like “little ancient one” — a term of
endearment rather than a literal description.
In the New Testament Priscilla (also called Prisca) was a prominent early Christian and wife of Aquila.
What the name Priscilla means
Together they hosted house churches in Corinth, Ephesus and Rome, and Paul describes them as his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” in Romans 16:3. The Puritans favoured the name heavily, bringing it to colonial New England.
Priscilla holds No. 615 with 484 births in the US. It peaked in 1940 at No. 127 with 1,970 births, buoyed by the wartime era’s affection for classic, dignified names with clear religious roots.
The name’s most iconic modern bearer was Priscilla Presley, wife of Elvis, whose memoir Elvis and Me (1985) and role in the Naked Gun films kept her in the public eye for decades.
Sofia Coppola’s film Priscilla (2023) renewed interest in the name and its bearer.
With 3 syllables and a crisp pr- onset, Priscilla has a precise, articulate sound. The central sil hums softly before the liquid -la ending, balancing sharpness and warmth in equal measure.
Nicknames include Cilla (popularised by British singer Cilla Black), Prissy and Priss. In Hispanic communities Priscila (single l) is the standard spelling and remains considerably more popular than in the general US population.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Courtship of Miles Standish (1858) features Priscilla Mullins, a real Mayflower passenger, as the romantic heroine.
This literary portrait shaped 19th-century American associations with the name as pure, steadfast and colonial.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Priscilla
Priscilla - similar names
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