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Home › Baby Names Directory › Piper

Piper

♂ Boy

Pronounced PY-per /ˈpaɪ.pər/Medium

Meaning: From the English occupational surname Piper, 'one who plays the pipe or flute.' Used here for a boy, though it is strongly a girl's name today, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: An occupational name: Piper means 'pipe player' (said 'PY-per'). Strongly a girl's name — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningFrom the English occupational surname Piper, 'one who plays the pipe or flute.' Used here for a boy, though it is strongly a girl's name today, which we note.
U.S. rank (2024)#11939 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 216

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201219972024

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

Piper is an English occupational surname, 'a player of the pipe or flute.' As a given name it is now overwhelmingly a girl's; used here for a boy, which we note. (said 'PY-per').

For boys it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against heavy girls' use. Very rare for boys, musical, and crisp.

Did you know? Piper is an English occupational surname, 'one who plays the pipe or flute'; as a first name it's strongly a girl's today, which we note (said 'PY-per').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Piper — English occupational surname; cross-sex, strongly girl

Variations

PyperPiparPipere

Nicknames

PipPipey

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Piper…

Harper— a like -er unisex pick
Sawyer— a like surname-name for boys
Cooper— a like occupational -er name
Power— echoes that soft -er sound
Preacher— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Piper

By themeenglishcross-sexoccupationalunisex-lean-girl

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Piper mean?

Piper is an English occupational surname meaning 'one who plays the pipe or flute'; as a name it's strongly a girl's, which we note.

How do you pronounce Piper?

It's said PY-per /ˈpaɪ.pər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Piper a boy or girl name?

Piper is used here as a boy's name, though it's strongly a girl's — we note the lean.

How popular is Piper?

Piper is very rare for boys in the U.S. and far more common for girls.

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