Peter
Boy name · English · Greek · Latin
Meaningrock · Greek
- US rank
- #187
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #31 in 1880
1,954 babies were named Peter in the US in 2025. It has climbed 28 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Peter you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Peter
Peter O'Toole
British-Irish actor (1932–2013)
Choose Peter and your child shares a first name with Peter O'Toole, a British-Irish actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Peter, like who?” Peter O'Toole's Wikipedia article is available in 103 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Peter O'Toole on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: ABC TV, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 874 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Peter, 1,954 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Peter would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPeter has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Peters, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #31. Today it's #187, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendPeter has climbed 28 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #187. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedPeter is most popular in Washington, D.C., where it ranks #43, followed by Alaska (#76) and Vermont (#80). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Greek, Peter means “rock”. Our records link it to English, Greek and Latin roots.
About the name Peter
Peter is a boy name of English, Greek and Latin origin meaning “rock”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-ter”. US birth records list Peter for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #31 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #187, with 1,954 babies.
Origin:English namesGreek namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 4,252 | 235 boys |
| 1890s | 3,534 | 283 boys |
| 1900s | 3,221 | 310 boys |
| 1910s | 3,720 | 269 boys |
| 1920s | 3,093 | 323 boys |
| 1930s | 3,383 | 296 boys |
| 1940s | 4,653 | 215 boys |
| 1950s | 5,070 | 197 boys |
| 1960s | 4,792 | 209 boys |
| 1970s | 3,764 | 266 boys |
| 1980s | 3,078 | 325 boys |
| 1990s | 2,171 | 461 boys |
| 2000s | 1,312 | 762 boys |
| 2010s | 996 | 1,004 boys |
| 2020s | 1,054 | 948 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Peter
What does the name Peter mean?
Peter means “rock” in Greek.
What is the origin of the name Peter?
Peter has English, Greek, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Peter a boy or girl name?
Peter is a boy name.
How popular is the name Peter?
Peter ranked #187 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,954 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#31).