Peter: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced PEE-ter · 2 syllables
Peter means “stone, rock”, from Greek and English and Latin.
From Middle English Peter, from Old English Petrus, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek (Petros), from (petros, “stone, rock”). Doublet of Pedro, Piers, and Boutros.
- Meaning
- stone, rock
- Origin
- Greek, English, Latin
- Pronunciation
- PEE-ter
- US rank (2025)
- #187
- US babies a year
- about 1,837 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1950
- Style
- Vintage, Classic, Biblical, Literary
- Nicknames
- Pete
How popular is Peter?
Peter was the #187 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,954 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1950.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #187 |
| England & Wales | #226 |
| Scotland | #204 |
| Northern Ireland | #139 |
| Ireland | #147 |
| France | #910 |
| Norway | #173 |
| Canada | #227 |
| Australia | #152 |
How old are people named Peter?
Half of US adults named Peter are older than 58; most are between 25 and 81. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Peter
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Peter have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Peter
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
- Classic boy names
- Vintage boy names
- Literary boy names
- Biblical boy names
- Greek boy names
- Latin boy names
Questions about Peter
What does the name Peter mean?
Peter means “stone, rock”. It comes from Greek and English and Latin.
How do you pronounce Peter?
Peter is pronounced PEE-ter.
How popular is the name Peter?
Peter was the #187 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,954 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1950.
How old are people named Peter?
Half of US adults named Peter are older than 58. Most are between 25 and 81.