Total births
179
Girls' name · since 1965
Petula
Since 1965, U.S. Social Security records show 179 babies named Petula, peaking in 1968. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 179
- total births
- 1965–1977
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 65%
- born in that decade
Petula is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 179 have been recorded since 1965.
Social Security Administration records show Petula recorded 179 times among girls since 1965, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1965 to 1977.
- 179 total births
- 1965–1977 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 65% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
179 girls have been named Petula since 1965, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1977.
- 179
- total births
- 1965–1977
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 65%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
65% of everyone ever named Petula was born in this single decade.
1968
Single peak year
39 babies were named Petula in 1968 - its busiest year on record.
Petula's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Petula splits its recorded history at 1970: 35% of all births land in the more recent half, 65% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1974 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1968 peak of 39 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Petula at a glance
Last recorded 1977Peak year
1968
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1965
Petula popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1965–1977
- Peak year (1968)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 13 years of records
Petula by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Petula's strongest decade.
117 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 65% of all-time use.
Petula births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s
1960s
117 births
- 1970s
1970s
62 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 117 births (65% of all-time use).
Petula by state
Where Petula concentrates geographically, total births since 1965
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 6 | 3.4% |
New York share of Petula's total US births 3.4%
6 of 179 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Petula? ▼
Petula has been given to 179 babies in the U.S. since 1965, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1977. 39 babies were born in 1968, its single highest year.
When was Petula most popular? ▼
Petula was most popular in the 1960s decade with 117 total births. The single peak year was 1968.
Where is Petula most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Petula are New York (6 births).
How long has the name Petula been used? ▼
Records for Petula go back to 1965, giving 13 years of history through 1977.
What names are similar to Petula? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Petra, Petrina, Peter, Petrona, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Petula's data
- Petula's usage has stayed within range of its 1960s decade-level peak (117 total births) through the 1970s (62) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- New York records the most Petulas (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York 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.
Keep exploring Petula
Nearby Names Like Petula
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Petula
Petra Girl
#1484 14,559 births
Petrina Girl
2,107 births
Peter Girl
1,943 births
Petrona Girl
#3474 409 births
Petronella Girl
335 births
Compare Petula side by side: Petula vs Petra Petula vs Petrina Petula vs Peter
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1965–1977 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Petula: Baby Name Since 1965 - 179 Births, Peak 1968." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/petula. 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 Petula 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 July 2026.