Is Peter a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Peter is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Peter?

It's currently ranked #184 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

Peter Boy

Popularity: #184 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PEE-tur //ˈpiːtər//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: rock; Latin: stone

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Peter originates from the Greek word "petros," meaning "rock" or "stone." This term was derived from the earlier Greek word "petras," which also signifies a rock or cliff. The name was adopted into Latin as "Petrus," which was subsequently used in early Christian texts.

The introduction of the name into English occurred through the Old French form "Pierre," which was brought to England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Thus, the name Peter has a rich linguistic lineage that traces back to ancient Greek and Latin, reflecting its foundational meaning in Christian theology.

Historically, the name Peter is most famously associated with Saint Peter, one of Jesus Christ's apostles, who is often regarded as the first Pope in Catholic tradition. His significance is underscored in the New Testament, where Jesus refers to him as the "rock" upon which the Church would be built, a pivotal moment that solidified the name's importance in Christian history.

The Vulgate, a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible, further popularized the name through its use in biblical texts. Over the centuries, numerous saints and martyrs named Peter have contributed to the name's enduring legacy within Christianity.

Culturally, the name Peter has been imbued with connotations of strength and reliability, reflective of its etymological roots. It has been a common name among various Christian communities, symbolizing faith and steadfastness.

The name has also inspired numerous variations and diminutives across different languages and cultures, such as "Pietro" in Italian and "Pieter" in Dutch, each carrying the same foundational meaning. The enduring nature of the name Peter in various forms across cultures highlights its significant role in religious and historical contexts.

Famous people named Peter

Peter Parker is a fictional superhero best known for Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Peter Jackson is a film director best known for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, and King Kong.

Peter Dinklage is an actor best known for Game of Thrones, The Station Agent, and Elf.

Peter Gabriel is a musician best known for his work with Genesis, Sledgehammer, and In Your Eyes.

Peter O'Toole is an actor best known for Lawrence of Arabia, The Lion in Winter, and My Favorite Year.

Peter Sellers is an actor and comedian best known for Dr. Strangelove, The Pink Panther, and Being There.

Peter Cushing is an actor best known for his roles in Star Wars, Hammer Horror films, and The Curse of Frankenstein.

Peter Sarsgaard is an actor best known for Boys Don't Cry, An Education, and Night and Day.

Peter Fonda is an actor best known for Easy Rider, Ulee's Gold, and The Wild Angels.

Peter Lorre is an actor best known for Casablanca, M, and The Maltese Falcon.

Peter Frampton is a musician best known for Frampton Comes Alive!, Show Me the Way, and Baby, I Love Your Way.

Peter Ustinov is an actor and writer best known for Spartacus, Death on the Nile, and The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.

Peter Capaldi is an actor best known for Doctor Who, The Thick of It, and In the Loop.

Peter Tork is a musician best known for being a member of The Monkees, and for his work on their television series.

Peter Andre is a singer and television personality best known for Mysterious Girl, and his appearances on British reality television.

Peter Molyneux is a video game designer best known for the Fable series, Dungeon Keeper, and Black & White.

Fictional characters named Peter

Peter Parker is a fictional character from the comic book series Spider-Man. He is a high school student who gains spider-like abilities and becomes a superhero to protect New York City.

Peter Pan is a fictional character from the play and novel Peter Pan. He is a mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up, leading children on adventures in Neverland.

Peter Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the bumbling and often inappropriate father of the Griffin family, known for his humorous antics.

Peter Venkman is a fictional character from the film Ghostbusters. He is a parapsychologist and one of the founding members of the Ghostbusters team, known for his charm and wit.

Peter Quill is a fictional character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and comic book series Guardians of the Galaxy. He is a human-alien hybrid and the leader of the Guardians, known for his adventurous spirit and love of music.

Sibling suggestions

Paul Mark James John Andrew Matthew

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Peter was first seen in the United States in 1880. Peter has ranked as high as #69 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Peter has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Peter (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	158	9%
TX	138	8%
NY	115	6%
PA	96	5%
FL	82	5%
OH	75	4%
MI	71	4%
IL	68	4%
UT	67	4%
VA	61	3%
WA	59	3%
GA	54	3%
MN	53	3%
MA	53	3%
NC	49	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	496
1881	428
1882	461
1883	450
1884	524
1885	516
1886	437
1887	421
1888	498
1889	425
1890	410
1891	396
1892	465
1893	392
1894	391
1895	412
1896	402
1897	397
1898	409
1899	354
1900	443
1901	343
1902	433
1903	372
1904	395
1905	409
1906	427
1907	473
1908	542
1909	539
1910	631
1911	845
1912	1,679
1913	1,934
1914	2,624
1915	3,302
1916	3,370
1917	3,464
1918	3,711
1919	3,375
1920	3,497
1921	3,548
1922	3,545
1923	3,409
1924	3,520
1925	3,373
1926	3,359
1927	3,301
1928	3,300
1929	3,216
1930	3,266
1931	3,122
1932	3,130
1933	3,137
1934	3,290
1935	3,421
1936	3,714
1937	3,809
1938	4,293
1939	4,639
1940	5,049
1941	5,607
1942	6,587
1943	6,877
1944	6,340
1945	6,483
1946	7,481
1947	8,590
1948	8,049
1949	8,265
1950	8,366
1951	8,999
1952	9,586
1953	9,730
1954	10,086
1955	11,003
1956	11,335
1957	11,604
1958	10,755
1959	11,290
1960	10,714
1961	10,346
1962	9,587
1963	9,611
1964	9,908
1965	9,396
1966	8,583
1967	8,313
1968	8,121
1969	7,832
1970	8,057
1971	7,024
1972	6,475
1973	5,913
1974	5,941
1975	5,698
1976	5,445
1977	5,823
1978	5,874
1979	6,080
1980	5,968
1981	5,999
1982	5,777
1983	5,484
1984	5,637
1985	5,674
1986	5,797
1987	5,554
1988	5,424
1989	5,411
1990	5,224
1991	4,959
1992	4,598
1993	4,539
1994	4,223
1995	4,112
1996	4,082
1997	3,828
1998	3,389
1999	3,439
2000	3,148
2001	2,950
2002	2,873
2003	2,804
2004	2,790
2005	2,553
2006	2,481
2007	2,337
2008	2,186
2009	2,009
2010	1,934
2011	1,838
2012	1,869
2013	1,854
2014	1,923
2015	1,938
2016	1,926
2017	1,792
2018	1,826
2019	1,819
2020	1,762
2021	1,785
2022	1,773
2023	1,749
2024	1,889