Peri

♀ Girl

Pronounced PAIR-ee /ˈpɛr.i/High

Meaning: From Persian pari, 'a fairy; a beautiful, winged spirit of Persian myth'; also a short form of Peridot/PersephoneMedium

In 30 seconds: A beautiful fairy: Peri is Persian for 'a fairy, a winged spirit'. Soft, whimsical, and warm.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumPersian

MeaningFrom Persian pari, 'a fairy; a beautiful, winged spirit of Persian myth'; also a short form of Peridot/Persephone

U.S. rank (2024)#5386 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births24 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1960

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,442

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

Peri comes from Persian pari, 'a fairy; a beautiful, benevolent winged spirit' (the peris of Persian myth, exquisite and graceful), and is also a short form of Peridot (a gemstone) or Persephone. A soft, whimsical, modern name (actress Peri Gilpin; said 'PAIR-ee').

In the U.S. it appears across communities. Rare, a-fairy at the root, and whimsical.

Did you know? Peri (pari) means 'a fairy; a beautiful, winged spirit' in Persian mythology — and is also a short form of Peridot or Persephone — a soft, whimsical name (said 'PAIR-ee').

Overall data confidence 68%

References — Peri — etymology

Variations

PerriPariPerry

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Peri…

Perri— a fellow spelling

Persephone— another name it can shorten

Zari— shares Peri's Persian roots

Esme— a similarly popular pick

Scarlette— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Peri

By themepersian mythological

By meaningBeauty

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Peri mean?

Peri is Persian for 'a fairy; a beautiful, winged spirit'.

How do you pronounce Peri?

It's said PAIR-ee /ˈpɛr.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Peri a boy or girl name?

Peri is a girl's name.

How popular is Peri?

Peri is a rare name in the U.S.