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.
- #20,978 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 179
- born since 1965
- 1960s
- peak 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.
- #20,978 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 179 born since 1965
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Petula ranks #20,978 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 179 born since 1965, peaking in the 1960s.
- #20,978 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 179
- born since 1965
- 1960s
- peak decade
Petula's 179 recorded births place it above 70.98% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by New York.
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 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
1960s is the heaviest window (117 births, 65% of the file).
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% |
6 of 179 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Petula side by side: Petula vs Petra Petula vs Petrina Petula vs Peter
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Petula: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1968)
Similar record span (~12 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.