Pete

♂ Boy

Pronounced PEET /piːt/High

Meaning: Short form of Peter, from Latin Petrus and Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone, a translation of Aramaic Kepha (Cephas) given to the apostle Simon by JesusHigh

In 30 seconds: Pete is the classic short form of Peter, meaning rock or stone in Greek. Simple, friendly, and timeless, it has been a beloved standalone name in English-speaking countries for centuries.

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Origin HighGreek, English

MeaningShort form of Peter, from Latin Petrus and Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone, a translation of Aramaic Kepha (Cephas) given to the apostle Simon by Jesus

U.S. rank (2025)#2382 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births58 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1959

Total births (all-time)≈ 43,532

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Pete derives from the Greek Petros and Latin Petrus, meaning rock. The Apostle Simon Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the first Bishop of Rome according to Catholic tradition, ensured that Peter became one of the most common names in Christian Europe. Pete developed as the natural English short form, used informally since at least the Middle Ages.

Pete became widely used as a standalone given name in the United States and Britain during the 19th and 20th centuries. Notable bearers include musician Pete Townshend, baseball legend Pete Rose, and baseball Hall of Famer Pete Alexander. Its straightforward, no-nonsense character makes it an enduring favourite for parents who want a name that feels warm and approachable without being fussy.

Did you know? The name Peter — and its short form Pete — owes its global spread to the Apostle Peter, whose original name was Simon until Jesus renamed him Kepha (rock) in Aramaic, translated into Greek as Petros and into Latin as Petrus.

Overall data confidence 98%

Hanks, Hardcastle & Hodges, Oxford Dictionary of First Names (2006) — Peter/Pete etymologyNew Testament — Matthew 16:18 — Biblical source of the rock naming

Variations

PeterPietroPedroPiersPiotr

Nicknames

Petey

Famous Bearers

★Pete Townshend (1945–present)
English musician and songwriter, co-founder and lead guitarist of the rock band The Who.
★Pete Rose (1941–2024)
American baseball player who is Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader, nicknamed Charlie Hustle.

If you like Pete…

Peter— the full form of which Pete is the short form

Jack— classic English one-syllable boys name of the same era

Mike— another familiar single-syllable short form used independently

Nate— a similarly popular pick

Psalm— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Pete

By themeenglish latin greek classic one-syllable christian short-form apostle

By meaningGift / Blessing Rock / Stone

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Pete mean?

Pete means rock or stone, as the short form of Peter, from Greek Petros and Latin Petrus.

How do you pronounce Pete?

Pete is a single syllable, pronounced PEET.

Is Pete a boy or girl name?

Pete is a boys name.

How popular is Pete?

Pete was very popular in the United States through the mid-20th century and remains a well-recognized name, though parents today more often use the full form Peter.