Peterson
Meaningson of Peter · English
- US rank
- #8,243
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #2,269 in 1982
9 babies were named Peterson in the US in 2025. It has dropped 176 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1950–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Peterson you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 188,679 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Peterson, 9 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Peterson would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPeterson first shows up in US birth records in 1950, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 75 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1982, when it ranked #2,269. Today it's #8,243, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowPeterson was 2.3× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 81,967 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 188,679.
- TrendPeterson has slipped 176 places over the last five years and now sits at #8,243. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Peterson means “son of Peter”. Our records link it to English and Latin roots.
About the name Peterson
Peterson is a boy name of English and Latin origin meaning “son of Peter”. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-son”. US birth records list Peterson for boys from 1950 to 2025, in 66 of those 76 years. Its best year was 1982, when it ranked #2,269 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #8,243, with 9 babies.
Origin:English namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.8 | 552,486 boys |
| 1960s | 2.5 | 392,157 boys |
| 1970s | 4.1 | 243,309 boys |
| 1980s | 9.6 | 104,384 boys |
| 1990s | 9.0 | 111,235 boys |
| 2000s | 7.2 | 139,276 boys |
| 2010s | 6.1 | 164,745 boys |
| 2020s | 5.1 | 196,078 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 Peterson
What does the name Peterson mean?
Peterson means “son of Peter” in English.
What is the origin of the name Peterson?
Peterson has English, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Peterson a boy or girl name?
Peterson is a boy name.
How popular is the name Peterson?
Peterson ranked #8,243 for US boys in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 1982 (#2,269).