How to say it
PE · ter
ˈpi.tɚ
Masculine
Peter
Rock, stone
What it means
Greek petros ('rock, stone'). Jesus's renaming of his disciple Simon ('You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church'). The first pope; Vatican City's Saint Peter's Basilica is named for him.
Peter comes from the Greek petros ('rock, stone'), itself the Greek translation of the Aramaic Kepha ('rock'). The name appears in the New Testament as Jesus's rename of his disciple Simon, 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church' (Matthew 16:18). The Catholic Church traces its line of popes back to Peter; Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City marks the traditional site of his crucifixion. Peter has been one of the central Christian masculine names for two thousand years. Peter the Great (the modernizing Russian tsar), Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie), and Peter Parker (Spider-Man) cover three very different eras. The standard short is Pete.
How to spell Peter
The standard spelling is Peter. Common variants include Pedro, Pierre, Pyotr, but Peter is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #31 in 1880, currently #187 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Pete is the universal short; Petey is the childhood form. Some Peters keep the full two syllables in adulthood.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Peter Apostle and the first pope, traditionally crucified upside-down in Rome
- Peter the Great Russian tsar 1682-1725, modernized Russia and founded Saint Petersburg
- Peter Pan J.M. Barrie's eternal-childhood character, 1904
Spelling variants
- Pedro
- Pierre
- Pyotr
Names with the same feeling
See Peter from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Peter mean?
- Greek petros ('rock, stone'). Jesus's renaming of his disciple Simon ('You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church'). The first pope; Vatican City's Saint Peter's Basilica is named for him.
- What does Peter mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Peter means "Rock, stone." Peter comes from the Greek petros ('rock, stone'), itself the Greek translation of the Aramaic Kepha ('rock'). The name appears in the New Testament as Jesus's rename of his disciple Simon, 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church' (Matthew 16:18). The Catholic Church traces its line of popes back to Peter; Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City marks the traditional site of his crucifixion. Peter has been one of the central Christian masculine names for two thousand years. Peter the Great (the modernizing Russian tsar), Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie), and Peter Parker (Spider-Man) cover three very different eras. The standard short is Pete.
- How do you pronounce Peter?
- Peter is pronounced ˈpi.tɚ. Say it as PE-ter, with the stress on the "pe" syllable.
- How do you spell Peter?
- The standard spelling is Peter. Common spelling variants include Pedro, Pierre, Pyotr.
- Is Peter a boy or girl name?
- Peter is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Peter?
- Peter ranked #187 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.