Peter

♂ Boy

Pronounced PEE-ter /ˈpiː.tər/High

Meaning: Rock; stone; from Greek Petros, a translation of Aramaic Kepha (Cephas)High

In 30 seconds: A rock-solid classic meaning 'stone,' given by Jesus to the apostle Simon — making it one of the most enduringly used names in Christian history and one of the great international names.

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Origin HighGreek, Latin

MeaningRock; stone; from Greek Petros, a translation of Aramaic Kepha (Cephas)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 574,930

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Peter derives from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), meaning 'rock' or 'stone,' which itself is a Greek translation of the Aramaic Kepha (Cephas) — the name Jesus gave to Simon bar Jonah. As the first pope and leader of the apostles, Saint Peter gave the name extraordinary prestige. The Latin form Petrus spread throughout the Roman Catholic world.

Peter has been among the most popular boys' names in Europe from the early medieval period through the 20th century. In the United States it peaked in the mid-20th century and has declined somewhat since, but remains a recognizable and well-loved classic. Fictional Peters from Pan to Parker to Rabbit have kept it vivid in popular culture.

Did you know? Simon was nicknamed Peter ('the rock') by Jesus (John 1:42) — the same pun underlies the Vatican's founding: 'Upon this rock I will build my church' (Matthew 16:18).

Variations

PierrePedroPiotrPieter

Nicknames

Pete

Famous Bearers

★Peter the Apostle (Saint Peter) (d. c. 64–68 CE)
One of Jesus's twelve apostles, considered the first pope of the Catholic Church.
★Peter Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Russian composer of <em>Swan Lake</em>, <em>The Nutcracker</em>, and many major orchestral works.

If you like Peter…

James— another apostle name that has remained a top-20 classic

John— the most popular biblical name of all time, same register

Frequently Asked

What does the name Peter mean?

Peter means 'rock' or 'stone,' from Greek Petros — the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon, calling him his rock.

How do you pronounce Peter?

Peter is pronounced PEE-ter (/ˈpiː.tər/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Peter a boy or girl name?

Peter is used exclusively as a boy's name; Petra and Peta are feminine forms.

How popular is Peter?

Peter was a top-20 U.S. boys' name from the 1940s through the 1970s. It has declined but remains a recognizable classic in the top 200.