Girls' name · since 1900

Pecola

Since 1900, U.S. Social Security records show 788 babies named Pecola, peaking in 1920. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

788
total births
1900–1987
years on record
1920s
peak decade
26%
born in that decade

788 girls have been named Pecola since 1900, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.

Social Security Administration records show Pecola recorded 788 times among girls since 1900, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1900 to 1987.

  • 788 total births
  • 1900–1987 years on record
  • 1920s peak decade
  • 26% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

788 girls have been named Pecola since 1900, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1987.

788
total births
1900–1987
years on record
1920s
peak decade
26%
born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade

26% of everyone ever named Pecola was born in this single decade.

1920
Single peak year

28 babies were named Pecola in 1920 - its busiest year on record.

Pecola's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Pecola splits its recorded history at 1936: 38% of all births land in the more recent half, 62% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1907 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1920 peak of 28 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.

Pecola at a glance

Last recorded 1987

Total births

788

Since 1900

88 years of records

Peak year

1920

28 births that year

Strongest decade: 1920s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1987

Active since

1900

Recorded for 88 years

Last year on file: 1987

Pecola popularity over time

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1900–1987

Last recorded 1987
Peak year (1920)
28
Annual births at peak, across 88 years of records
0102030 190019131921192919371945195319651987 5

Pecola by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1920s was Pecola's strongest decade.

201 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.

Pecola births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 201 births (26% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

How Pecola compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Pecola's total volume

Pecola vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Pecola vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20% 050100150 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Pecola
Pecola vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Pecola by state

Where Pecola concentrates geographically, total births since 1900

Geographically diffuse
Top 3 states by recorded births for the name Pecola
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Georgia
82 10.4%
#2 Alabama
41 5.2%
#3 Mississippi
11 1.4%
Georgia share of Pecola's total US births 10.4%
Even split

82 of 788 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Pecola?
788 babies have been named Pecola since 1900. It was last recorded in 1987. The peak year was 1920 with 28 births.
When was Pecola most popular?
Pecola was most popular in the 1920s decade with 201 total births. The single peak year was 1920.
Where is Pecola most popular?
The top states for the name Pecola are Georgia (82 births), Alabama (41 births), Mississippi (11 births).
How long has the name Pecola been used?
Records for Pecola go back to 1900, giving 88 years of history through 1987.
What names are similar to Pecola?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Pecolia. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Pecola's data

  • Pecola's decade-level peak was the 1920s (201 total births); usage has since declined to 12 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Georgia records the most Pecolas (82 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Georgia names
  • Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Data Sources

Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1900–1987 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Pecola: Baby Name Since 1900 - 788 Births, Peak 1920." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/pecola. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Pecola draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.