Given name & surname
Pet
“an impatient woman”·“watchful”·“one who is vigilant; watch-”
Pet is a short form of Petula. One Latin interpretation is “an impatient woman.” Its derivation is not certain. In Scottish use, Pet is a short form of Gregory. Interpretations include “watchful” and “one who is vigilant; watch-” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Pet is a short form of Petula. One Latin interpretation is “an impatient woman.” Its derivation is not certain. In Scottish use, Pet is a short form of Gregory. Interpretations include “watchful” and “one who is vigilant; watch-” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Pet is a short form of Petula. A possible origin is Late Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain. In Scottish use, Pet is a short form of Gregory. An origin associated with Gregory is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Pet is used as a shortened form of Petula.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1900. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Scottish use, Pet is a short form of Gregory. The history of Gregory gives this family its wider story. Gregory’s historical associations include a number of early saints.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Pet through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20
- 10 boys · 10 girls
- Most popular year
- 1900
- 10 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1938. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 507 as a first name in 2020; 239 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Pet’s family of names
Pet is a short form of Gregory. Pet is a short form of Petula.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Pet, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.