Pete Boy

Popularity: #884 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PEET //piːt//

Origin: Greek; English

Meaning: Greek: Rock; English: Diminutive of Peter

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Pete is derived from the Greek name "Petros," meaning "rock" or "stone." This term was used in the New Testament to refer to the Apostle Peter, who was one of Jesus Christ's closest disciples. The name was adopted into Latin as "Petrus," which then evolved into Old French as "Pierre." The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Norman names were introduced into the English language.

The diminutive form "Pete" emerged as a familiar or affectionate variant of Peter, particularly in the 19th century. Historically, the name Peter has significant biblical roots, as it is associated with Saint Peter, who is considered the first Pope in Roman Catholic tradition.

His martyrdom is traditionally dated to around 64 AD, and he is often depicted as a foundational figure in Christianity. The name gained further prominence through various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version published in 1611, which helped solidify its usage in English-speaking cultures.

Throughout the centuries, numerous saints and notable figures have borne the name, contributing to its enduring legacy. Culturally, the name Pete, as a diminutive of Peter, carries connotations of strength and reliability, reflecting its etymological roots.

It has been embraced in various literary and artistic contexts, often symbolizing steadfastness and loyalty. The name's simplicity and familiarity have allowed it to resonate across different cultures and time periods, making it a lasting choice in various societies.

Overall, the name Pete encapsulates a rich historical and cultural significance that traces back to its ancient origins.

Famous people named Pete

In this section, you will find notable people named Pete. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Pete who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Pete who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Pete Townshend is a musician best known for being a guitarist and songwriter for The Who.

Pete Sampras is a former professional tennis player best known for winning 14 Grand Slam singles titles.

Pete Davidson is a comedian and actor best known for Saturday Night Live, The King of Staten Island, and Bodies Bodies Bodies.

Pete Rose is a former professional baseball player best known for being the all-time hits leader in Major League Baseball.

Pete Seeger is a folk musician and social activist best known for songs like If I Had a Hammer and Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Pete Carroll is a football coach best known for coaching the Seattle Seahawks and winning Super Bowl XLVIII.

Pete Wentz is a musician best known for being the bassist and lyricist for Fall Out Boy.

Pete Holmes is a comedian and actor best known for his HBO series Crashing and his podcast You Made It Weird.

Fictional characters named Pete

The following list of fictional characters named Pete is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Pete is a fictional character from the animated series Mickey Mouse. He is often portrayed as a villain and rival to Mickey Mouse, known for his scheming and mischievous behavior.

Pete is a fictional character from the comic strip and animated series Peanuts. He is a friend of Charlie Brown and is known for his laid-back personality and humorous interactions with the other characters.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Pete, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Pete. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Pete was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Pete has ranked as high as #592 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Mexico.

In the past 5 years the name Pete has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Pete is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Pete was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Pete (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 8
62%
CA 5
38%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Pete.

YearBirths
202440
202354
202255
202158
202051
201944
201860
201756
201649
201562
201470
201363
201264
201166
201065
200982
200888
200789
200688
200580
200486
200394
200297
200190
200099
1999110
1998123
1997121
1996126
1995118
1994130
1993146
1992128
1991167
1990169
1989179
1988179
1987172
1986186
1985182
1984195
1983206
1982209
1981236
1980220
1979269
1978211
1977262
1976261
1975258
1974268
1973279
1972313
1971360
1970374
1969342
1968357
1967379
1966388
1965449
1964549
1963609
1962629
1961697
1960754
1959768
1958758
1957651
1956573
1955551
1954495
1953531
1952504
1951537
1950560
1949580
1948654
1947738
1946683
1945578
1944649
1943640
1942561
1941534
1940513
1939543
1938513
1937510
1936559
1935588
1934602
1933514
1932530
1931592
1930578
1929584
1928614
1927599
1926643
1925646
1924628
1923623
1922644
1921668
1920636
1919628
1918638
1917639
1916582
1915531
1914432
1913340
1912263
1911143
1910156
1909120
1908131
1907122
190680
190586
190471
190369
190275
190179
1900116
189974
189853
189776
189663
189566
189468
189364
189274
189153
189060
188960
188882
188747
188654
188556
188481
188343
188260
188157
188050