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Home › Baby Names Directory › Pharaoh

Pharaoh

♂ Boy

Pronounced FAR-aohh /ˈfær.æoʊh/Medium

Meaning: Palace, pharaohMedium

In 30 seconds: Pharaoh comes straight from the ancient title for the rulers of Egypt, originally meaning something like 'great house' or palace. As a given name it has been embraced within African American naming.
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Origin MediumAfrican American
MeaningPalace, pharaoh
U.S. rank (2025)#2051 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births73 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,990

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201919792025

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

The word behind Pharaoh once referred to the royal palace itself before it became the title for Egypt's kings. Used as a first name, it carries that sense of authority and grandeur directly into a child's name. The spelling Pharoah is a common variant that swaps the order of the final vowels.

It is an unusual choice that reads as bold and regal, and the two spellings can trip people up since the letters are easy to transpose.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Pharaoh is 'palace, pharaoh', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Pharaoh — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Pharoah

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Pharaoh…

Caesar— another ancient ruler's title used as a strong given name
King— shares Pharaoh's theme of royalty and command as a name
Davon— shares Pharaoh's African American roots
Deion— another African American name
Kentrell— a fellow African American choice

Explore names like Pharaoh

By themeafrican-american

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Pharaoh mean?

Pharaoh is usually explained as meaning 'palace, pharaoh' and is most often linked with African American tradition.

How do you pronounce Pharaoh?

It's commonly said FAR-aohh /ˈfær.æoʊh/.

Is Pharaoh a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Pharaoh is used as a boy name.

How popular is Pharaoh?

In 2024, Pharaoh ranked #1756 in the U.S. for boys, with 94 births recorded.

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