Peter means rock — from the Greek petros. Jesus said Upon this rock I will build my church, making Peter the foundation of Christianity. Peter Pan never grew up. Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Peter the Great transformed Russia. The name is the rock on which churches, fairy tales, and superhero franchises are built. Two syllables of absolute foundation.
Peter comes from the Greek petros, meaning rock. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter, saying upon this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) — making Peter the first pope. Peter Pan (1904) is J.M. Barrie's boy who never grows up. Spider-Man's Peter Parker is Marvel's most beloved hero. Peter the Great (1672–1725) transformed Russia into a European power. Peter has been one of the most important names in Western civilisation.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — Jesus names Simon Peter the rock (Matthew 16:18).
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Today
Peter remains a beloved choice, ranking #209 in the US. 589,576 babies have been named Peter since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Matthew 16:18, SSA data
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How popular is Peter?
1957peak year
Peter appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 1957, 11,604 babies were named Peter (ranked #37 nationally). Today it sits around #209, with roughly 1,826 babies named Peter each year. Peter's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 589,576 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
11,604 Babies named in peak year (ranked #37)
1,826Avg. per year (last decade)
18,260Total registrations last 10 years
589,576All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #209)Very popular
Peter's Life Path 4 is the builder's number — the rock on which everything is built. People named Peter tend to be foundational, dependable, and capable of supporting entire structures on their shoulders.
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Foundation of everything
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Rock-solid dependability
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Never grows old
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Friendly neighbourhood hero
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Transforms nations
P7
E5
T2
E5
R9
Sum: 28 → Life path 1
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Personality of Peter
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Independent & bold
These individuals chart their own course. They lead, they don't follow.
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Ambitious drive
Quiet determination sits behind everything they do.
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Original ideas
Their minds work differently — seeing angles others walk past.
Every name has a homeland. Discover strong boy names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.