The story behind Petra
A feminine form of Peter, identical with Late Latin petra (“stone”); came into regular use in the 19th century.
Other language forms and explanations (5)
Czech entry
a female given name from Ancient Greek, equivalent to English Petra
Dutch entry
a female given name from Ancient Greek, masculine equivalent Peter, equivalent to English Petra
Finnish entry
Borrowed from German Petra or Swedish Petra in the 20th century. Can be considered the feminine equivalent of Petri. Sometimes associated with dialectal Finnish petra (“deer”).
German entry
a female given name from Ancient Greek, masculine equivalent Peter, Petrus, equivalent to English Petra
Slovak entry
a female given name from Ancient Greek, equivalent to English Petra
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈpɛtɹə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Czech: [ˈpɛtra]
- Dutch: /ˈpeː.traː/
- Finnish: /ˈpetrɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈpe̞t̪rɑ̝]
- German: /ˈpeːtʁa/
- Slovak: /petra/
- Slovak: [ˈpetra]
Popularity
Petra ranked #1372 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Petra
Peta
A rare feminine form of Peter.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Phaedra
From Latin Phaedra, from Ancient Greek Φαίδρᾱ (Phaídrā). The myth has been retold several times, in plays (in classical times in Euripides's Hippolytus and Seneca the Younger's…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Althea
From Althaia or Althaea of Greek mythology, from Ancient Greek Ἀλθαία (Althaía). Borrowed from English Althea.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aná
a female given name from Ancient Greek [in turn from Biblical Hebrew], equivalent to English Anah.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Á
- same syllable count
- similar length
Andrea
Latinate feminine form of Andreas and Andrew. Borrowed from Italian Andrea. From Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andréas). Due to the loss of the final S, the…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anna
From Late Latin Anna both directly and via numerous other languages, chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Petra
Bairbre
From Latin Barbara (name of a legendary saint), feminine form of barbarus, from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “strange, foreign”). Cognate with Scottish Gaelic Barabal and…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barbara
* From Latin Barbara, the name of Saint Barbara, feminine form of barbarus, from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “strange, foreign”). Doublet of Varvara. * (logic): From the…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bárbara
a female given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek], equivalent to English Barbara a female given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek], equivalent to English…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Petra
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
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length