Prescilla as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Prescilla

What is the meaning of the name Prescilla ?

The baby name Prescilla is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced pre-SIL-ə (IPA: /prɛˈsɪlə/),pri-SIL-ə (IPA: /prɪˈsɪlə/).

Prescilla is Latin in Origin.

Prescilla is a modern respelling of Priscilla, a Latin name derived from Prisca, the feminine of Priscus meaning “ancient,” “venerable,” or “of former times.” The -illa ending is a Latin diminutive, giving the affectionate nuance “little venerable one.” Prescilla preserves the same pronunciation as Priscilla but uses an altered vowel sequence; it is occasionally encountered in English-speaking records as an alternative spelling.

The name’s prominence stems from the New Testament couple Prisca/Priscilla and Aquila, early Christian teachers associated with the apostle Paul, which anchored it in Christian naming traditions. It flourished in 17th‑century England and colonial America and saw later revivals; figures like Mayflower passenger Priscilla Mullins kept it in public memory. International variants include Priscilla (English/Italian), Priscila (Spanish/Portuguese), Priscille (French), and Prisca/Priska (Latin, German, Slavic). Common nicknames are Cilla, Scilla, Pris, and Prissy. Prescilla shares the same meaning and heritage as its parent form.