Fun Facts About the Name Peter
- A favorite across generations: Peter stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 589,587 boys named Peter from 1880 through 2025.
- More than 591 thousand babies named Peter: U.S. records list 591,530 babies given the name Peter from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,943 girls received the name Peter - about 1 girl for every 303 boys.
What Does the Name Peter Mean?
Peter is the English form of Greek Πέτρος (Petros), which means 'rock' or 'stone.' The Greek name is a translation of the Aramaic nickname כֵּיפָא (Kepha), also meaning 'rock' or 'stone,' which Jesus gave to Simon in the Gospels. The Latin form Petrus is the immediate source of the English name.
The literal sense is a rock or stone. The later Christian image of Peter as the rock on which the church is built comes from the biblical wordplay in Matthew 16:18, not from a separate etymology.
Peter Name History & Origins
The name came into use among Christians because of Simon Peter, the apostle. The Gospels record that Jesus gave Simon the byname Cephas, translated into Greek as Petros; the Latin Church used Petrus. From these forms the name spread across Christian Europe: French Pierre, Italian Pietro, Spanish Pedro, German Peter, Dutch Pieter, Russian Pyotr, Polish Piotr, Irish Peadar, and Welsh Pedr.
In England, Peter is found in medieval records and became a common given name in the Middle Ages. The English form comes from Latin Petrus; the related Middle English name Piers (modern Pierce) came through Old French Pierre. Churches, monasteries, and saints named Peter helped keep the name in use, and it has remained a standard English given name.
In modern literature, Peter is the name of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit. These are later literary uses, not the origin of the name.
How Popular is the Name Peter?
Peter has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 1996.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #14,879 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #19,331 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #15,954 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #13,833 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #14,550 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #8,849 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #11,472 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #6,176 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #5,914 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #9,317 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #5,418 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #7,817 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #4,645 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1989 | #4,470 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #3,371 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1987 | #2,956 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1986 | #2,328 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1985 | #3,062 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1984 | #2,286 | 43 | 0.0026% |
| 1983 | #2,502 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1982 | #2,405 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 1981 | #2,761 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #2,175 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1979 | #2,459 | 38 | 0.0024% |
| 1978 | #2,457 | 36 | 0.0024% |
| 1977 | #2,597 | 33 | 0.0022% |
| 1976 | #2,423 | 34 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #3,228 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #2,481 | 31 | 0.0021% |
| 1973 | #2,724 | 26 | 0.0018% |
| 1972 | #2,436 | 30 | 0.0020% |
| 1971 | #2,134 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1970 | #2,071 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1969 | #2,127 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1968 | #2,231 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1967 | #2,540 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1966 | #2,046 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1965 | #2,803 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #3,347 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #2,595 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1962 | #3,261 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #1,862 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1960 | #2,079 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 1959 | #2,224 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1958 | #2,641 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,261 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1956 | #2,697 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #2,615 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #2,674 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #2,223 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #3,159 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #2,896 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #5,149 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #2,598 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,174 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #2,335 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1946 | #2,571 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #1,817 | 22 | 0.0017% |
| 1944 | #1,856 | 22 | 0.0017% |
| 1943 | #2,227 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1942 | #2,102 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1941 | #2,506 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #1,832 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #2,710 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #2,096 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1937 | #2,289 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #2,364 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,698 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #1,597 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1933 | #2,032 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #1,671 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1931 | #2,090 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1930 | #2,193 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #1,590 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1928 | #1,495 | 29 | 0.0025% |
| 1927 | #1,663 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1926 | #2,058 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1925 | #2,743 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #2,294 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #2,148 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1922 | #1,775 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1921 | #2,357 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1920 | #2,244 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1919 | #2,238 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1918 | #2,983 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #2,522 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #2,464 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1915 | #1,730 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1914 | #2,101 | 12 | 0.0016% |
| 1913 | #2,295 | 9 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #3,335 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1911 | #2,789 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1906 | #1,907 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1899 | #1,553 | 6 | 0.0026% |
| 1887 | #1,130 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #187 | 1,954 | 0.1144% |
| 2024 | #192 | 1,889 | 0.1101% |
| 2023 | #210 | 1,749 | 0.1024% |
| 2022 | #213 | 1,773 | 0.1016% |
| 2021 | #215 | 1,785 | 0.1021% |
| 2020 | #215 | 1,762 | 0.1021% |
| 2019 | #212 | 1,819 | 0.1014% |
| 2018 | #211 | 1,826 | 0.1006% |
| 2017 | #214 | 1,792 | 0.0968% |
| 2016 | #207 | 1,926 | 0.1015% |
| 2015 | #205 | 1,938 | 0.1011% |
| 2014 | #204 | 1,923 | 0.1001% |
| 2013 | #206 | 1,854 | 0.0980% |
| 2012 | #204 | 1,869 | 0.0985% |
| 2011 | #197 | 1,838 | 0.0968% |
| 2010 | #193 | 1,934 | 0.1008% |
| 2009 | #190 | 2,009 | 0.1013% |
| 2008 | #181 | 2,186 | 0.1072% |
| 2007 | #177 | 2,337 | 0.1126% |
| 2006 | #167 | 2,481 | 0.1207% |
| 2005 | #162 | 2,553 | 0.1278% |
| 2004 | #143 | 2,790 | 0.1406% |
| 2003 | #146 | 2,804 | 0.1420% |
| 2002 | #134 | 2,873 | 0.1480% |
| 2001 | #133 | 2,950 | 0.1518% |
| 2000 | #125 | 3,148 | 0.1603% |
| 1999 | #105 | 3,439 | 0.1791% |
| 1998 | #111 | 3,389 | 0.1773% |
| 1997 | #102 | 3,828 | 0.2031% |
| 1996 | #95 | 4,082 | 0.2155% |
| 1995 | #89 | 4,112 | 0.2160% |
| 1994 | #87 | 4,223 | 0.2186% |
| 1993 | #82 | 4,539 | 0.2314% |
| 1992 | #81 | 4,598 | 0.2302% |
| 1991 | #77 | 4,959 | 0.2455% |
| 1990 | #74 | 5,224 | 0.2543% |
| 1989 | #66 | 5,411 | 0.2704% |
| 1988 | #64 | 5,424 | 0.2834% |
| 1987 | #64 | 5,554 | 0.2975% |
| 1986 | #60 | 5,797 | 0.3148% |
| 1985 | #60 | 5,674 | 0.3070% |
| 1984 | #60 | 5,637 | 0.3123% |
| 1983 | #59 | 5,484 | 0.3059% |
| 1982 | #57 | 5,777 | 0.3184% |
| 1981 | #55 | 5,999 | 0.3349% |
| 1980 | #55 | 5,968 | 0.3345% |
| 1979 | #53 | 6,080 | 0.3531% |
| 1978 | #54 | 5,874 | 0.3577% |
| 1977 | #55 | 5,823 | 0.3543% |
| 1976 | #54 | 5,445 | 0.3470% |
| 1975 | #54 | 5,698 | 0.3649% |
| 1974 | #50 | 5,941 | 0.3778% |
| 1973 | #52 | 5,913 | 0.3794% |
| 1972 | #48 | 6,475 | 0.3993% |
| 1971 | #47 | 7,024 | 0.3972% |
| 1970 | #44 | 8,057 | 0.4336% |
| 1969 | #43 | 7,832 | 0.4380% |
| 1968 | #39 | 8,121 | 0.4672% |
| 1967 | #39 | 8,313 | 0.4767% |
| 1966 | #39 | 8,583 | 0.4812% |
| 1965 | #39 | 9,396 | 0.5051% |
| 1964 | #39 | 9,908 | 0.4972% |
| 1963 | #40 | 9,611 | 0.4733% |
| 1962 | #43 | 9,587 | 0.4634% |
| 1961 | #42 | 10,346 | 0.4871% |
| 1960 | #42 | 10,714 | 0.5026% |
| 1959 | #40 | 11,290 | 0.5289% |
| 1958 | #41 | 10,755 | 0.5068% |
| 1957 | #37 | 11,604 | 0.5379% |
| 1956 | #37 | 11,335 | 0.5359% |
| 1955 | #35 | 11,003 | 0.5342% |
| 1954 | #37 | 10,086 | 0.4947% |
| 1953 | #38 | 9,730 | 0.4933% |
| 1952 | #36 | 9,586 | 0.4932% |
| 1951 | #38 | 8,999 | 0.4779% |
| 1950 | #37 | 8,366 | 0.4673% |
| 1949 | #38 | 8,265 | 0.4659% |
| 1948 | #37 | 8,049 | 0.4587% |
| 1947 | #36 | 8,590 | 0.4695% |
| 1946 | #38 | 7,481 | 0.4606% |
| 1945 | #38 | 6,483 | 0.4817% |
| 1944 | #40 | 6,340 | 0.4652% |
| 1943 | #39 | 6,877 | 0.4818% |
| 1942 | #39 | 6,587 | 0.4769% |
| 1941 | #44 | 5,607 | 0.4565% |
| 1940 | #43 | 5,049 | 0.4356% |
| 1939 | #46 | 4,639 | 0.4191% |
| 1938 | #48 | 4,293 | 0.3871% |
| 1937 | #52 | 3,809 | 0.3571% |
| 1936 | #56 | 3,714 | 0.3581% |
| 1935 | #59 | 3,421 | 0.3285% |
| 1934 | #61 | 3,290 | 0.3186% |
| 1933 | #60 | 3,137 | 0.3164% |
| 1932 | #62 | 3,130 | 0.2998% |
| 1931 | #61 | 3,122 | 0.3003% |
| 1930 | #56 | 3,266 | 0.2976% |
| 1929 | #55 | 3,216 | 0.2990% |
| 1928 | #56 | 3,300 | 0.2979% |
| 1927 | #59 | 3,301 | 0.2929% |
| 1926 | #58 | 3,359 | 0.3025% |
| 1925 | #60 | 3,373 | 0.3023% |
| 1924 | #59 | 3,520 | 0.3108% |
| 1923 | #58 | 3,409 | 0.3110% |
| 1922 | #57 | 3,545 | 0.3258% |
| 1921 | #57 | 3,548 | 0.3221% |
| 1920 | #57 | 3,497 | 0.3286% |
| 1919 | #57 | 3,375 | 0.3443% |
| 1918 | #53 | 3,711 | 0.3662% |
| 1917 | #50 | 3,464 | 0.3743% |
| 1916 | #50 | 3,370 | 0.3786% |
| 1915 | #49 | 3,302 | 0.3891% |
| 1914 | #48 | 2,624 | 0.4008% |
| 1913 | #51 | 1,934 | 0.3773% |
| 1912 | #48 | 1,679 | 0.3905% |
| 1911 | #50 | 845 | 0.3739% |
| 1910 | #56 | 631 | 0.3249% |
| 1909 | #56 | 539 | 0.3287% |
| 1908 | #53 | 542 | 0.3512% |
| 1907 | #61 | 473 | 0.3222% |
| 1906 | #59 | 427 | 0.3207% |
| 1905 | #62 | 409 | 0.3091% |
| 1904 | #62 | 395 | 0.3083% |
| 1903 | #58 | 372 | 0.3120% |
| 1902 | #51 | 433 | 0.3530% |
| 1901 | #57 | 343 | 0.3222% |
| 1900 | #58 | 443 | 0.2944% |
| 1899 | #53 | 354 | 0.3333% |
| 1898 | #54 | 409 | 0.3334% |
| 1897 | #51 | 397 | 0.3521% |
| 1896 | #52 | 402 | 0.3362% |
| 1895 | #53 | 412 | 0.3510% |
| 1894 | #55 | 391 | 0.3377% |
| 1893 | #54 | 392 | 0.3490% |
| 1892 | #45 | 465 | 0.3810% |
| 1891 | #45 | 396 | 0.3913% |
| 1890 | #45 | 410 | 0.3693% |
| 1889 | #45 | 425 | 0.3843% |
| 1888 | #41 | 498 | 0.4121% |
| 1887 | #43 | 421 | 0.4151% |
| 1886 | #42 | 437 | 0.3945% |
| 1885 | #33 | 516 | 0.4787% |
| 1884 | #34 | 524 | 0.4579% |
| 1883 | #36 | 450 | 0.4301% |
| 1882 | #36 | 461 | 0.4055% |
| 1881 | #37 | 428 | 0.4249% |
| 1880 | #31 | 496 | 0.4489% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
