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Petula

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Petula

Pronounced puh-TOO-luh /pəˈtuː.lə/Medium

Meaning: Petula is an uncommon name of uncertain Latin derivation, variously read from petra ('rock', hence 'little rock') or petere ('to seek'). It is best known through the British singer Petula Clark, whose fame briefly lifted it.Low

In 30 seconds: Petula is a rare name of uncertain Latin roots, made visible by singer Petula Clark (said puh-TOO-luh).

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Origin LowEnglish, Latin

MeaningPetula is an uncommon name of uncertain Latin derivation, variously read from petra ('rock', hence 'little rock') or petere ('to seek'). It is best known through the British singer Petula Clark, whose fame briefly lifted it.

U.S. rank (1977)#10779 ↘ Falling

1977 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1968

Total births (all-time)≈ 179

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

Petula is a scarce name of unsettled origin, usually traced to Latin roots such as petra ('rock', giving 'little rock') or petere ('to seek'). Its real currency in America came from the British singer Petula Clark, whose mid-sixties success made the name briefly recognizable.

Even so it stayed very rare, chosen for only a handful of girls a year across a short window centered on the late nineteen-sixties before fading. A Petula today would likely be in her fifties, and the name reads as a period piece tied closely to one famous bearer.

Did you know? Petula rose and fell with the fame of Petula Clark, whose hit 'Downtown' put the name in American ears in the mid-sixties.

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Petula — uncertain Latin roots; bearer Petula Clark

Variations

PetulahPerpetua

Nicknames

PetTula

Famous Bearers

★Petula Clark (b. 1932)
British singer and actress whose hit 'Downtown' briefly brought the name to American ears in the mid-1960s

If you like Petula…

Perpetua— a like Latin-rooted girls' name

Paloma— another distinctive three-beat name

Tallulah— a like -ula ending name

Priscilla— a same-era classical girls' name

Explore names like Petula

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Petula mean?

Petula is an uncommon name of uncertain Latin origin, sometimes read as 'little rock', borne by singer Petula Clark.

How do you pronounce Petula?

It's said puh-TOO-luh, three syllables with the stress in the middle.

Is Petula a boy or girl name?

Petula is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Petula?

Petula has always been very rare in the U.S., known mainly through the singer Petula Clark.