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Home › Baby Names Directory › Pryor

Pryor

♂ Boy

Pronounced PRY-ər /ˈpraɪ.ər/High

Meaning: From the surname Pryor/Prior — from Latin prior, 'a prior; the head of a religious house; the earlier/superior one'Medium

In 30 seconds: A prior: Pryor is an English surname — 'a prior, a head of a religious house'. Crisp, distinguished, and warm.
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Origin MediumLatin, English
MeaningFrom the surname Pryor/Prior — from Latin prior, 'a prior; the head of a religious house; the earlier/superior one'
U.S. rank (2024)#5584 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births17 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 467

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201918812024

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

Pryor comes from the surname Pryor/Prior — from Latin prior, 'the earlier, the superior one; a prior, the head of a priory or monastery' (or a nickname for one who served a prior). A crisp, distinguished surname-name (the great comedian Richard Pryor; said 'PRY-ər').

It registers thinly in records. Rare, a-prior at the root, and distinguished.

Did you know? Pryor/Prior means 'a prior, the head of a religious house' (Latin prior, 'the earlier, the superior one') — a crisp surname-name (the comedian Richard Pryor; said 'PRY-ər').
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Pryor — surname etymology

Variations

PriorPryer

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Pryor mean?

Pryor is an English surname, 'a prior; the head of a religious house' (Latin).

How do you pronounce Pryor?

It's said PRY-ər /ˈpraɪ.ər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Pryor a boy or girl name?

Pryor is a boy's name.

How popular is Pryor?

Pryor is a very rare name in the U.S.

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