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Home › Baby Names Directory › Priscila

Priscila

♀ Girl

Pronounced prees-THEE-la /pɾis.ˈθi.la/Medium

Meaning: Ancient, oldMedium

In 30 seconds: Priscila is a Portuguese form of Priscilla, carrying the meaning 'ancient' or 'old.' It is the trimmer, single-L spelling favored in Portuguese-speaking countries.
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Origin MediumPortuguese, Spanish
MeaningAncient, old
U.S. rank (2025)#2211 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births84 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2002
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,895

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200219642025

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 name descends from a classical root meaning 'ancient,' and Priscila is the Portuguese way of writing the longer Priscilla. The single L marks it as the Iberian and Brazilian spelling while keeping the same sense and sound. Older forms like Prisca belong to the same family.

Bearers such as Mexican beauty queen Priscila Perales and Brazilian actress Priscila Fantin show its strong presence across Latin America. The name can be shortened affectionately to Cece.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Priscila is 'ancient, old', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Priscila — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

PriscaPriscillaPriskaPriskillaCece

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Priscila Perales (1983–present)
    Mexican beauty queen, Miss International 2007.
  • ★Priscila Fantin (1983–present)
    Brazilian telenovela actress.

If you like Priscila…

Priscilla— the fuller spelling Priscila trims, with the same 'ancient' meaning
Micaela— echoes that soft -la sound
Carmela— shares the -la ending
Marcela— shares Priscila's Portuguese roots
Azula— a fellow Spanish choice

Explore names like Priscila

By themespanishportuguese

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Priscila mean?

Priscila is usually explained as meaning 'ancient, old' and is most often linked with Portuguese tradition.

How do you pronounce Priscila?

It's commonly said prees-THEE-la /pɾis.ˈθi.la/.

Is Priscila a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Priscila?

In 2024, Priscila ranked #2571 in the U.S. for girls, with 69 births recorded.

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