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Why is lead represented by the chemical symbol Pb?

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A periodic table element box for lead (Pb) shows atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, electron configuration, and labels for symbol, name, crystal structure, and physical state, with a legend for color and symbol meanings. — lead Properties of lead.

The chemical symbol for lead is Pb because it is an abbreviation of the Latin word for the element, plumbum.12

Many chemical symbols are derived from the Latin names of elements, a system of notation proposed by the Swedish scientist J.J. Berzelius in 1813 to standardize chemical nomenclature. This practice explains why several other elements also use symbols that do not match their modern English names, such as Au for gold (aurum) and Na for sodium (natrium).3