boy's name
Papa
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 742
Papa is a boy's name with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 5 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
- Peaked in France in 1978, when 10 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in France.
- Today about 1 in 117,911 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1962.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Papa over time
Births per decade in France, 1960s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 20 |
| 1970s | 25 |
| 1980s | 55 |
| 1990s | 30 |
| 2000s | 50 |
| 2010s | 60 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 50 |
How popular is Papa?
In 2025, Papa was given to 5 babies in France. It is a rare choice.
Where Papa is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Papa
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Papa also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Papa over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Sibling names for Papa
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Papa — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Papa
How popular is the name Papa?
In 2025, Papa was given to 5 babies in France. It is a rare choice.
Is Papa a girl's or a boy's name?
Papa is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Papa?
Papa has 2 syllables.
When was Papa most popular?
Papa peaked in 1978, when 10 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Papa a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Papa currently ranks #2,511 in France. After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.