NameChart

Peter

Boy name

Peter has been given to 591,531 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1957 and currently ranks #187 for boys (2025).

Meaning & origin /ˈpiːtə/

From Middle English Peter, from Old English Petrus, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”). Doublet of Pedro, Piers, and Boutros.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

02.901k5.802k8.702k11.603k 18801900192019401960198020002020 Girls Boys
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

591,531

Peak year

1957 (11,628 babies)

Rank in 2025

#187 for boys

First recorded

1880

10-year trend

▲ +1%

Gender split

0% girls / 100% boys

Famous people named Peter

Peter Paul Rubens

Flemish painter (1577–1640)

Spider-Man

Fictional character in Marvel Comics

Peter O'Toole

British-Irish actor (1932–2013)

Peter Jackson

New Zealand film director, screenwriter, producer and actor (born 1961)

Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Peter.

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