Parris
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Parris is an English name meaning “from Paris”. It is a rare name, used by both boys and girls.
Meaning & Origin of the name Parris
Parris is a surname of English and French origin that functions as a habitational name referring to individuals from the city of Paris. The name is also linked to the Celtic tribe known as the Parisi, who inhabited parts of Yorkshire. Etymologically, some scholars associate the root with the Proto-Indo-European 'kwer', meaning to make or produce, though this remains a subject of academic analysis regarding its ultimate derivation. It became established in naming records through its connection to geographic centers and historical tribal identity.
Meaning Comments
- Mage_matty3: Looks and sounds like Paris, the capital in France.
- Flyaway_rod: Really this sounds like you want people to mess up your name with Paris and be made fun of!
- Claimant9839: I know a young woman with this name. We discussed her name once, and she told me it was her mother's maiden name. I learned to love the name through knowing this person, and it made the name feel more meaningful and less airheaded than the famous Paris Hilton.
Gender Usage of the Name Parris
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Parris is generally considered a unisex name, although one gender is somewhat more common. Current records show 39.57% male and 60.43% female bearers. This classification is supported by a large number of recorded bearers.
Popularity of the Name Parris
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Parris is listed under Rare Unisex Names worldwide. Its popularity varies considerably across the available regional markets, with the strongest usage in United Kingdom.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Uncommon | 1 in every 692K births |
| United Kingdom | Uncommon | 1 in every 747K births |
| Canada | Rare | 1 in every 15.2M births |
| Australia | Rare | 1 in every 6.25M births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Parris ranked #1,184 on the Popular Unisex Names Worldwide List (2025). This year the name appears in the official list for this region after being absent in the prior official year. Newly recorded in the latest official lists, Parris shows early signs of usage.
Historically, its best recorded position was #48 in 1950. Its lowest recorded position was #1,390 in 2008. Over the last 13 years (2012–2025) the name fell -171 places (from #1,013 to #1,184).
Name StyleMethodology
Parris is classified as Classic Unisex Names because it appears in 74% of available years and remains active today, averaging 2 births per year after a historical peak in 1998.Characteristics of the Name Parris
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Unisex Names
- Length
- 6 letters — Medium-Length Unisex Names
- Starts with
- P — Unisex Names Starting with P
- Ends with
- s — Unisex Names Ending in “s”
Name AestheticMethodology
Parris maintains a sharp two-syllable structure with initial stress and a crisp sibilant ending. This phonetic construction aligns with a Strong & Powerful aesthetic, reminiscent of the Prince Paris of Troy from Homer's Iliad. The name projects a sense of direct, dramatic urgency through its percussive onset.
Middle Names For Parris
Middle names used with ParrisMethodology
Parris is most frequently used with these unisex middle names: Parris Lee · Parris Mitchell · Parris Spencer · Parris Jarrell · Parris CarlisleView all 17 unisex middle names.
- Total 100 middle names used with Parris
- 31 boy middle names used with Parris
- 50 girl middle names used with Parris
Middle name suggestions for ParrisMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Parris is most frequently associated with unisex middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 6 letters, and a starting sound of “l”.
Examples: Parris Leslie · Parris Lawson · Parris Lavern · Parris Layton · Parris Latham. View all 191 suggested middle names.
Names Similar to Parris
Sound Like Parris Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Praise · Perris · Paaras · View all 5 names
Spelled Like Parris Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Perris
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Peyton · Payton · Pat · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Parris Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Reese · Laurence · Phoenix · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Taylor · Jamie · Leslie · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Parris”
Dictionary Meaning of "Parris"Methodology
An English surname from the Celtic Parisi tribe of Yorkshire, the name of uncertain origin. Koch proposes derivation from Proto-Celtic *kʷert (“make, cause”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- (compare Welsh peri)
An English habitational surname, a variant of Paris
A French habitational surname, a variant of Paris
A Belgian surname, a variant of Parys
A male given name transferred from the surname
Misspelling of Paris
Alternative Forms
More Info
How to Spell Parris in ASL
- P
- a
- r
- r
- i
- s
Comments on the name Parris
3 comments
Meriseake12
Parris Mitchell (Robert Cummings) character in Warner Brothers Pictures Inc. 1942: Kings Row (Claude Rains, Ronald Reagan, Ann Sheridan) directed by Sam Wood.
The_arr0w16
Parris Goebel is a choreographer and dancer from New Zealand. She is the founder and main choreographer of the dance school "The Palace Dance Studio," and is the choreographer for the dance group "The Royal Family" which has won the World Hip Hop Dance Championship three times in a row.
Aaronwisti73
A famous bearer of this name would be Samuel Parris, the Reverend in Salem at the time of the Witch Trials. He also had a daughter named Betty who was one of the "inflicted" girls. The Crucible, a play about the Salem Witch Trials, includes the two of them as characters.