Pete Boy

Popularity: #880 · 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.

PaulMarkJohnLukeJamesTomSam

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.

PatPaxPerryPacePipParkerPryce

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Pete has ranked as high as #616 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Mexico.

In the past 5 years the name Pete has been trending up 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.

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.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 58 58 0
2024 40 40 0
2023 54 54 0
2022 55 55 0
2021 58 58 0
2020 51 51 0
2019 44 44 0
2018 60 60 0
2017 56 56 0
2016 49 49 0
2015 62 62 0
2014 70 70 0
2013 63 63 0
2012 64 64 0
2011 66 66 0
2010 65 65 0
2009 82 82 0
2008 88 88 0
2007 89 89 0
2006 88 88 0
2005 80 80 0
2004 86 86 0
2003 94 94 0
2002 97 97 0
2001 90 90 0
2000 99 99 0
1999 110 110 0
1998 123 123 0
1997 121 121 0
1996 126 126 0
1995 118 118 0
1994 130 130 0
1993 147 147 0
1992 128 128 0
1991 167 167 0
1990 169 169 0
1989 179 179 0
1988 179 179 0
1987 172 172 0
1986 186 186 0
1985 182 182 0
1984 195 195 0
1983 206 206 0
1982 209 209 0
1981 236 236 0
1980 220 220 0
1979 269 269 0
1978 215 210 5
1977 271 262 9
1976 261 261 0
1975 258 258 0
1974 268 268 0
1973 284 279 5
1972 318 313 5
1971 367 360 7
1970 374 374 0
1969 342 342 0
1968 357 357 0
1967 384 379 5
1966 394 388 6
1965 449 449 0
1964 554 549 5
1963 609 609 0
1962 634 629 5
1961 695 695 0
1960 756 756 0
1959 767 767 0
1958 757 757 0
1957 651 651 0
1956 573 573 0
1955 556 551 5
1954 500 495 5
1953 531 531 0
1952 504 504 0
1951 537 537 0
1950 560 560 0
1949 580 580 0
1948 654 654 0
1947 737 737 0
1946 689 684 5
1945 578 578 0
1944 655 649 6
1943 640 640 0
1942 561 561 0
1941 534 534 0
1940 521 513 8
1939 543 543 0
1938 521 513 8
1937 510 510 0
1936 559 559 0
1935 588 588 0
1934 602 602 0
1933 521 514 7
1932 536 530 6
1931 597 592 5
1930 578 578 0
1929 590 584 6
1928 614 614 0
1927 607 599 8
1926 649 643 6
1925 651 646 5
1924 633 628 5
1923 628 623 5
1922 649 644 5
1921 675 668 7
1920 636 636 0
1919 634 628 6
1918 638 638 0
1917 644 639 5
1916 587 582 5
1915 531 531 0
1914 432 432 0
1913 340 340 0
1912 263 263 0
1911 143 143 0
1910 156 156 0
1909 120 120 0
1908 131 131 0
1907 122 122 0
1906 80 80 0
1905 86 86 0
1904 71 71 0
1903 69 69 0
1902 75 75 0
1901 79 79 0
1900 116 116 0
1899 74 74 0
1898 53 53 0
1897 76 76 0
1896 63 63 0
1895 66 66 0
1894 68 68 0
1893 64 64 0
1892 74 74 0
1891 53 53 0
1890 60 60 0
1889 60 60 0
1888 82 82 0
1887 47 47 0
1886 54 54 0
1885 56 56 0
1884 81 81 0
1883 43 43 0
1882 60 60 0
1881 57 57 0
1880 50 50 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 8
62%
CA 5
38%