The story behind Peter
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.
Other language forms and explanations (5)
Danish entry
From Old Norse Pétr, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”), related to πέτρα (pétra). Later reinforced by the German Peter.
Dutch entry
From Middle Dutch Peter, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “rock, stone”), as a name a loan translation of Aramaic כֵּיפָא (“stone, rock; Peter, Cephas”).
German entry
Borrowed from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”), related to πέτρα (pétra).
Italian entry
Borrowed from German Peter.
Swedish entry
From Old Norse Pétr, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”), related to πέτρα (pétra). Later reinforced by the German Peter.
Pronunciation
Canada, General-American: /ˈpitɚ/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Australia, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpiːtə/
- Canada, General-American: [ˈpʰitɚ]
- Canada, General-American: [ˈpʰiɾɚ]
- Danish; stressed: /ˈpeːˀtər/
- Danish; stressed: [ˈpʰeːˀd̥ɐ]
- Danish; unstressed: /petər/
- Danish; unstressed: [pʰed̥ɐ]
- Dutch: /ˈpeː.tər/
- German: /ˈpeːtɐ/
- Italian: /ˈpɛ.ter/
- Swedish: /ˈpeːtɛr/
- Swedish: /ˈpɛtr/
Popularity
Peter ranked #187 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Peter
Peadar
From Old Irish Petur, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”). From Old Irish Petur, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Petar
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Pieter
From Middle Dutch Pieter, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “rock, stone”), as a name a loan translation of Aramaic כֵּיפָא (“stone,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Pròsper
Borrowed from Latin prosperus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Àlvar
Borrowed from Old Norse Alfarr, from alfr (“elf”) + herr (“army”). Cognate to Swedish Alvar and Spanish Álvaro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Arnar
From Old Norse Arnar.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Peter
Aake
From Old Norse Áki, probably via Old Swedish [Term?] or Old Danish [Term?]. It has also been used as a nickname for several names beginning with A, such as Aarne, Akseli,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abelus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), itself from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel). The vowel, while short by etymology, is shown to be carrying stress by the descended…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abílio
Perhaps from Latin abilius (“not vindictive”). Possibly related to Abelardo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Peter
Aake
From Old Norse Áki, probably via Old Swedish [Term?] or Old Danish [Term?]. It has also been used as a nickname for several names beginning with A, such as Aarne, Akseli,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length