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Name at a glance

Peter

Peter is a Greek name meaning rock or stone.

Ranked #187 in US baby names in 2025, peaked at #31 in 1880, stable over the past 5 years.

Peter is one of the most visible apostles in the New Testament, remembered for bold confession, failure, restoration, preaching, and leadership in the early church.

Browse namesRead Peter's story
OriginGreek
GenderBoy
FeelApostolic
PronunciationPEE-ter

Is Peter biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Peter is a named person in Scripture, the fisherman renamed by Jesus who led the Twelve, named in Matthew 16:18.

Is Peter a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Peter is venerated as Saint Peter the Apostle across Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions and used across Christian cultures for centuries.

Plain answer

Peter is one of the central New Testament apostles and a foundational Christian name honored across all major traditions.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Peter

Peter comes from Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone. In the Gospels, Jesus gives Simon the name Peter, making the meaning part of the story rather than only an etymology.

Name story

Simon becomes Peter

Peter is first known as Simon, a fisherman and the brother of Andrew. Jesus gives him the name Peter, a name connected with rock imagery and future calling.

That name becomes especially important in Matthew 16, where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. The name carries strength, but the story also shows that strength has to be redeemed and restored.

Biblical arc

Failure, restoration, and witness

Peter's story includes courage and collapse. He follows Jesus, speaks boldly, denies him, weeps bitterly, and is restored after the resurrection.

In Acts, Peter becomes a public witness to the risen Christ. That gives the name a deeply Christian pattern: not flawless strength, but grace-shaped leadership.

Sound

How to pronounce Peter

Phonetic
PEE-ter
IPA
/ˈpiːtəɹ/

2 syllables · stress: PEE-ter · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Petros
  • Pierre
  • Pedro
  • Pietro
  • Piers
  • Pyotr
  • Peder
  • Peadar

Short forms and nicknames

  • Pete
  • Petey

Languages

Peter in other languages

Aramaic
כֵּיפָאKephaKepha (Cephas in Greek transliteration) is the Aramaic original Jesus gives Simon in John 1:42; the Greek Petros is its translation, both meaning "rock".
Greek
ΠέτροςPetros
Latin
Petrus
Spanish
Pedro
French
Pierre
German
Peter
Italian
Pietro
Russian
ПётрPyotr
Polish
Piotr
Arabic
بُطْرُسButrus

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Peter is central in Christian tradition because of his role among the apostles, his confession of Christ, his restoration after denial, and his prominence in Acts.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Peter is one of Jesus' twelve apostles, Andrew's brother, and a leading witness in the early church.

Read the full story of Peter in the Bible

Bearers

Notable people named Peter

  • biblical

    Peter (Simon Peter)Galilean fisherman renamed Cephas / Peter by Jesus, leader among the Twelve, traditional first bishop of Rome

  • historical

    Peter Paul RubensFlemish Baroque painter and diplomat, 1577 to 1640

  • historical

    Peter the GreatTsar of Russia who modernized the Russian state and founded Saint Petersburg, 1672 to 1725

  • historical

    Peter DruckerAustrian-born American writer and consultant who founded modern management theory, 1909 to 2005

  • modern

    Peter JacksonNew Zealand filmmaker, director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, born 1961

  • modern

    Peter DinklageAmerican actor known for Game of Thrones, born 1969

Saint

Saint Peter the Apostle

Traditions
Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran
Patron of
the papacy, fishermen, net makers, shipwrights, Rome

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul celebrates Peter jointly with Paul as the founders of the Roman Church. The Chair of Saint Peter is a separate feast commemorating his teaching authority. Peter's traditional burial site is beneath the high altar of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Peter has been used across Christian cultures for centuries, with forms such as Pierre, Pedro, Pietro, and Piers. In English it feels classic, mature, and clearly biblical.

Recent US use

Peter in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#187
Peak rank
#31 in 1880
Recent trend
stable over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

Pairings

Names paired with Peter

  • Paulco-apostle

    Peter and Paul are venerated together as the founders of the Roman church; they share a joint solemnity.

For families

For families looking at Peter

For a Christian family, Peter is a strong but approachable apostolic name. It may suit parents who want a name connected with restoration, courage, and steady Christian witness.

Common questions

What does Peter mean?

Peter means rock or stone.

Is Peter a biblical name?

Yes. Peter is one of Jesus' twelve apostles.

Why did Jesus call Simon Peter?

Jesus gives Simon the name Peter, connected with rock imagery and his role in the apostolic witness.

Sources

Sources for Peter

  • A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and GingrichSupports: Greek etymology (Petros, rock or stone); meaning.
  • Matthew, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure (apostle renamed by Jesus, Matthew 16:18).
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: Saint Peter the Apostle (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran); feast day (June 29, joint solemnity with Paul).

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

AndrewPeter's brother and the disciple who brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-42); both are sons of Jona and fishermen from Bethsaida.PaulThe two pillar apostles of the early church; their decisions at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) shaped Christian mission to the Gentiles.JohnPeter, James, and John form the inner circle of the Twelve, present at the Transfiguration and Gethsemane; Peter and John often appear together in Acts.MatthewMatthew's Gospel records Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13-20), the moment Jesus renames him from Simon.