Peter

Peter - A very unique male name

Peter appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #58. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Peter and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Peter? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Peter. The baby boy name Peter was given to 1,941 baby boys in 2025, ranking #187 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 755 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Peter peaked in popularity 71 years ago in 1955 on position 35.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Peter, 1-5?

Peter is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Peter is currently topping the baby name charts in District of Columbia at position #46 - and is the least popular in Alabama at position #443.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Peter is where you live.

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Peter origin and meaning

Greek, via Latin

From Greek Petros, 'stone, rock'

Peter renders Petros, the name Christ gave the apostle Simon — 'on this rock I will build my church'. It has been a core European name for two thousand years, peaked in the US in 1957, and after a long decline has recently turned slightly upward as a vintage choice.

Attested etymology

Peter is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Peter, pop culture references for the name Peter and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Peter

We've found the following names that sound similar to Peter, sorted by popularity.

Pedro / Pietro / Piotr / Pieter / Petar / Peder / Petra / Petr / Pater /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Peter

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Peter a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Peter?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

PEE-ter · /ˈpiːtər/

Around the world

• Pierre (French) — The French form of Peter
• Pedro (Spanish) — The Spanish and Portuguese form
• Pyotr (Russian) — The Russian form
• Peter (German) — Used as-is, pronounced PAY-ter

Spellings and nicknames

• Pete — Originally a nickname, occasionally given as a full name
• Piers — An old English form of the same name

Nicknames: PetePetey

Famous bearers

• Saint Peter — Apostle of Jesus and, in Catholic tradition, the first pope (Biblical) Historical
• Peter the Great — Tsar and Emperor of Russia (1672–1725) Historical
• Peter Dinklage — Actor known for Game of Thrones (b. 1969) Contemporary
• Peter Jackson — New Zealand director of The Lord of the Rings films (b. 1961) Contemporary

Style

BiblicalClassicInternationalRoyal

Why parents choose it

Peter is a rock-solid classic that is currently uncommon for babies — most Peters are fathers and grandfathers — which makes it a distinctive vintage pick.

Worth knowing

• 'Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater' and similar rhymes are standard teasing material
• Some parents find it plain compared with current fashion