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Pecola
How to Pronounce Pecola
Pronounced peh-KOH-lah /pɪˈkoʊlə/Medium
Meaning: Pecola is a rare American girl's name of uncertain origin. No settled etymology exists; it appears to be an invented name built from fashionable sounds of the early twentieth century, perhaps blending an initial like Pearl with the -ola ending seen in Viola and Lola. It later became widely known as the name of the central character in Toni Morrison's 1970 novel, but the birth name predates that book by decades.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Pecola shows up in Southern United States records early in the twentieth century, most likely an invented name in the manner of Lola, Viola and Ola, all then in style. No documented root explains it, so its meaning stays open.
Pecola was scarce from the start, drawing only a few dozen girls a year at its modest peak around 1920 and thinning to almost nothing by the late twentieth century. Its later fame owes more to fiction than to the nursery.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Pecola mean?
Pecola's origin is uncertain; it appears to be an invented American name and no documented meaning survives.
How do you pronounce Pecola?
It's said peh-KOH-lah /pɪˈkoʊlə/, three syllables.
Is Pecola a boy or girl name?
Pecola is a girl's name.
Is Pecola a popular name?
No, Pecola was always very rare, reaching only a few dozen girls a year at most before nearly disappearing.