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Name

Peter

/PEE-ter/ MasculineGreek

Meaning

Peter is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning “rock, stone”.

Peter translates the Aramaic nickname Cephas, rock, which Jesus gave the apostle Simon, declaring him the rock on which the church would be built. From czars to Peter Pan, the name's two crisp syllables have anchored it in every European language.

A former US top-50 staple, still widely used across Europe.

Popularity in the United States

Boys

Ranked #187 in 2025 · peak #55 in 1981

Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.

At a glance

Origin
Greek
Gender
Masculine
Pronounced
/PEE-ter/

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Questions

  • Peter is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning “rock, stone”. Peter translates the Aramaic nickname Cephas, rock, which Jesus gave the apostle Simon, declaring him the rock on which the church would be built.

  • Peter is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. It is a former US top-50 staple, still widely used across Europe.

  • The name Peter comes from Greek. Peter translates the Aramaic nickname Cephas, rock, which Jesus gave the apostle Simon, declaring him the rock on which the church would be built. From czars to Peter Pan, the name's two crisp syllables have anchored it in every European language.

  • Peter is pronounced PEE-ter.

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