Pleshette
A feminine diminutive form of the French surname Pleshet, of uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 187 living Americans carry the first name Pleshette. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pleshette today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pleshette births was 1972 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pleshette. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
187
~ 1 in 1,832,911 Americans
Peak year
1972
25 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
1989 SSA rank
#11,918
Tracked since 1964
Census
Pleshette in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census recorded 169 people with the first name Pleshette, which placed it at #42,487 in the published first-name tables. This is a snapshot of people who already had the name at the time of the Census.
The SSA sections elsewhere on this page answer a different question: how often parents gave the name to babies over time. The "people living today" figure on this page is different again: it is a current estimate built from SSA birth records and age-based survival rates, so the two numbers are not expected to match exactly.
2020 Census rank
#42,487
National first-name rank
People counted
169
169 in the published race/origin table
Per 100,000
0.1
People with this name in 2020
Largest reported group
Black or African American
82.8% of people with this name
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pleshette
In the 2020 Census race and Hispanic-origin table, the largest reported group for people named Pleshette is Black at 82.8%. The next largest groups are White (9.5%) and Two or More Races (5.3%). These figures describe the people who had the name in 2020, not any inherent property of the name itself.
The bar chart below shows how people with the first name Pleshette described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given name, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown so the breakdown is easy to read across every published category. Because the 2020 Census first-name file also includes raw headcounts for each group, Name Census can show those alongside the percentages in the legend and hover tooltip.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A first name does not determine a person's race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the name Pleshette at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American82.8% · 140
- White9.5% · 16
- Two or more races5.3% · 9
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 1
Popularity
Pleshette: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pleshette from the 1960s through to the 1980s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 117 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pleshette by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Pleshette during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pleshettes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Pleshette
The name Pleshette is believed to have its origins in the French language, derived from the word "plaisir," which means "pleasure" or "delight." This name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, a period when many French names were introduced and gained popularity across Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pleshette can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in a medieval French text referring to a character known for their joyful and pleasant nature. This early association with positivity and enjoyment may have contributed to the name's enduring appeal.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pleshette. One of the most famous was Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008), an American actress renowned for her roles in films such as "The Birds" and television shows like "The Bob Newhart Show." Her talent and charisma made her a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
Another historical figure with the name Pleshette was Marie Pleshette (1890-1972), a French painter and sculptor who gained recognition for her avant-garde works during the early 20th century. Her bold artistic style and innovative techniques left a lasting impact on the art world.
In the realm of literature, Pleshette Dubois (1922-2003) was a celebrated French novelist and essayist whose thought-provoking works explored themes of identity, social commentary, and the human condition. Her writings resonated with readers across generations and garnered critical acclaim.
The name Pleshette also found its way into the world of classical music through the composer and pianist Pleshette Leclerc (1901-1987). Born in France, Leclerc's compositions were characterized by their intricate melodies and rich harmonies, earning him a place among the great musicians of his time.
Lastly, Pleshette Montague (1876-1951) was a notable British suffragette and activist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Her unwavering dedication to the cause of gender equality and her tireless advocacy for women's rights left an indelible mark on history.
While the name Pleshette may not be as common as some other names, its unique origins and the remarkable individuals who have carried it throughout history have contributed to its enduring legacy and cultural significance.
People
Pleshette + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pleshette as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Pleshette: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pleshette?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 187 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pleshette going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,832,911 US residents.
Is Pleshette a common name?
We classify Pleshette as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 210 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pleshette most popular?
The single biggest year for Pleshette was 1972, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pleshette is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
How common was Pleshette in the 2020 Census?
The published 2020 Census first-name tables recorded 169 people with the name Pleshette, or 0.06 per 100,000 residents. That placed it at #42,487 in the national Census ranking for first names.
Why is the Census count different from the living estimate?
Because they measure different things. The Census figure is a count of people who had the name Pleshette in 2020. The living estimate aims to answer a current question instead: how many people with the name are alive today, based on SSA birth records and age-based survival rates. Since one number is a 2020 snapshot and the other is a present-day estimate, they are not expected to be identical.
What does the Census say about the gender split for Pleshette?
In the 2020 Census sex table, Pleshette appears almost entirely female. Of the 170 people counted with this name, 100.0% were female and only a very small share were male. The Census view is a snapshot of people living with the name in 2020, while the SSA section above tracks births across time.
What does the Census say about the background of people named Pleshette?
In the 2020 Census race and Hispanic-origin table, the largest reported group for people named Pleshette is Black at 82.8%. The next largest groups are White (9.5%) and Two or More Races (5.3%). These figures describe the people who had the name in 2020, not any inherent property of the name itself. The percentages in the chart above come from self-reported race and Hispanic-origin responses in the 2020 Census.
Which group reports the name Pleshette most often in the Census?
Black is the largest reported group for people named Pleshette in the 2020 Census, accounting for 82.8% (140 people in the published table).
Why can the Census sex total and race total differ slightly?
The Census Bureau published separate 2020 tables for sex and for race/Hispanic origin, and the released figures can differ slightly because of privacy protection in the public files. That is why this page treats the gender section and the race/origin section as two related snapshots instead of forcing them into one identical total.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only includes names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files have no Census demographic snapshot. When that happens, the SSA trend, gender history, and state sections still appear, but the 2020 Census demographic sections are omitted.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Pleshette in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Pleshette a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pleshette in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Pleshette still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Pleshette in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Pleshette can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
How many people are called Pleshette?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.