PAMELA:  A literary name probably of Greek derivation, meaning "all honey; all sweetness."  Diminutives Pam and Pammy, exist, and variant, Pamella, is sometimes found.

PAMELLA:  see Pamela.

PAMMY:  see Pam.

PANDORA:  Greek name meaning "many gifted."  Diminutive, Dora, exists.

PANSY:  From the flower.

PARTHENIA:  Greek name meaning "virgin."

PARTHENOPE:  Greek name meaning "maiden-faced."

PAT:  Diminutive of Patricia, "noble," or "patrician."  Other diminutives include Patti and Patty.

PATIENCE:  From the virtue.

PATRICIA:  Feminine form of Latin Patricius, "noble."  Also regarded as a female equivalent of Patrick, "patrician."  Diminutives include Pat, Patsy, Patti, Patty, Tricia, Trish and Trisha.

PATSY:  see Patricia.

PATTI:  see Patricia.

PATTIE:  see Patricia.

PATTY:  see Patricia.

PAULA:  Feminine form of Paul, "small."

PAULEEN:  see Pauline.

PAULENE:  see Pauline.

PAULETTE:  French feminine diminutive of Paul, "small."

PAULINA:  Feminine form of Latin Paulinus, itself a diminutive of Paulus, the Latin form of Paul, "small."

PAULINE:  French form of Paulina, "small."  Variants include Paulene and Pauleen.

PEARL:  From the gem.  Diminutive, Pearlie, is sometimes found.

PEARLIE:  see Pearl.

PEG:  see Peggy.

PEGGY:  Variant of Maggie, itself a diminutive of Margaret, "pearl."  Diminutive is Peg.

PEN:  see Penny.

PENELOPE:  Greek name probably meaning "seamstress."  Diminutive, Penny, exists.

PENNY:  Diminutive of Penelope, "seamstress."  Further diminutive, Pen, exists.

PERDITA:  A literary name of Latin derivation meaning "lost."

PERRY:  see Persephone and Persis.

PERSEPHONE:  Greek name meaning "bringing death."

PERSIS:  Biblical name, from Greek meaning "Persian woman."

PET:  see Petula.

PETA:  Feminine equivalent of Peter, "rock."

PETRA:  Latinized feminine equivalent of Peter, "rock."

PETRONELLA:  English form of Latin name Petronilla, the feminine diminutive of the Roman clan name Petronius, which is itself associated with Peter, "rock."

PETULA:  Either from Latin petere, "to seek/beg" as "one sought for," or from Latin petulans, "bold."  Often felt to be related to Peter, "rock."

PHIL:  see Philadelphia and Philomena.

PHILADELPHIA:  Biblical place name, from Greek name meaning "brotherly love."

PHILIPPA:  Feminine equivalent of Philip, "lover of horses."  Diminutive, Pippa, exists.

PHILLIS:  see Phyllis.

PHILLYS:  see Phyllis.

PHILOMEL:  see Philomela.

PHILOMELA:  Greek name meaning "sweet singer" or "nightingale."  Variant, Philomel, exists.

PHILOMENA:  Greek name meaning "strength-loving" or "strongly loved."

PHOEBE:  Greek name meaning "bright; brilliant."

PHYLLIS:  Greek name meaning "foliage" or "green branch."  Variants are Phillis and Phillys.

PIA:  Latin or Italian name meaning "pious" or "obedient."

PIETY:  From the virtue.

PIP:  see Pippa.

PIPER:  Old English name meaning "pipe player."

PIPPA:  Diminutive of Philippa, "lover of horses."  Further diminutive, Pip, exists

PLAXY:  Cornish name of Greek derivation meaning "action" or "doing."

PLEASANCE:  From Old English word meaning "pleasure" or "happiness."  Pleasant is closely related.

PLEASANT:  From ordinary word.  Pleasance is closely related.

POLL:  see Polly.

POLLY:  Variant of Molly, itself a diminutive of Mary, "bitter."  Diminutive, Poll, exists.  Pollyanna is a directly derived name.

POLLYANNA:  Compound name consisting of Polly, "bitter" and Anna, "grace."

POPPY:  From the flower.

PORTIA:  Latin clan name of uncertain origin but perhaps derived from porcus, "pig."  Sometimes said to mean "an offering."

POSY:  Originally a diminutive of Josephine, "God increases," but now usually considered a flower name.

PRIMROSE:  From the flower.

PRISCILLA:  Latin name meaning "previous" or "ancient."  Diminutives include Cilla and Prissy.

PRISSY:  see Priscilla.

PROSERPINE:  From Roman name for Persephone, "bringing death," related to Latin proserpere, "to creep forth," as of flowers in spring.  Diminutives Pross and Prossy, exist.

PROSS:  see Proserpine.

PROSSY:  see Proserpine.

PRU:  see Prudence and Prunella.

PRUDENCE:  From the virtue.  Diminutives Pru and Prue, exist.

PRUE:  see Prudence and Prunella.

PRUNELLA:  Latin name meaning "little plum."  Diminutives are Pru and Prue, as for Prudence.

PSYCHE:  Greek name meaning "breath" or "soul."