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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Pernille is a feminine given name used in Denmark and Norway. It comes from Petronella, a name traced to the Roman family name Petronius, whose origin and meaning are uncertain. Pernille is therefore not known to have a definitive literal meaning.
What does the name Pernille mean?
Pernille derives from Petronella, which is traced to the Roman family name Petronius. Because the origin or meaning of Petronius is uncertain, a confident literal gloss for Pernille—such as “rock”—is not established. Store norske leksikon lists Pernilla as a related form.
Is Pernille Danish or Norwegian?
It is used as a feminine given name in both Denmark and Norway. The available population counts show use in each country, though they refer to different dates and should not be treated as current totals.
| Country and source | Published count | Date and definition |
|---|---|---|
| Norway — Store norske leksikon | 4,465 women | 2022; women with Pernille as their only or first given name. The same source reports 84 girls given the name in 2022. |
| Denmark — Dansk Navneleksikon, using Statistics Denmark data | 18,156 women and zero men | As of 1 January 2022; people with Pernille as a first name. |
The Norwegian account describes an early peak in use from 1805 to 1819 and a later rise around 2000; those are historical patterns, not present-day population figures. Store norske leksikon reports the Norwegian counts and trends, while Dansk Navneleksikon gives the Danish count.
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Pernille in Norwegian literature
The name has a notable place in Norwegian theater through Ludvig Holberg’s comedies. Pernille is a sharp-witted servant in several plays and appears alongside Henrik as a protagonist in Henrik og Pernille (1724). Store norske leksikon documents this literary association.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When is Pernille’s name day?
Store norske leksikon lists 31 May as Pernille’s name day in Norway. The sources cited here do not establish whether that date is also observed in Denmark. Store norske leksikon
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