Precious
Girl name · 20 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Precious: 20 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2011.
The name Precious entered English use directly from the vocabulary word, ultimately from Latin *pretiosus* meaning "of great value" or "costly," and was adopted as a given name particularly within African-American and other English-speaking communities from the 20th century onward. A prominent bearer is American actress and singer Precious Wilson, known for her work with disco group Eruption, while the name gained widespread recognition through Sapphire's novel *Push* and its film adaptation *Precious*, starring Gabourey Sidibe. The word itself shares its Latin root with "price" and "praise," and the name has become a symbolic choice for parents wishing to express a child's immense worth. It remains rare in Scotland, occasionally appearing in registrations, and carries a distinctively modern, aspirational quality.
Girl 5 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20115 babies
- Latest (2024)
- #6384 babies
- Total births
- 20since 2010
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y