Peter
Say it: PEE-ter
BoyMeans stone, rock5 letters2 syllables
#152
in Ireland (2025)
#147 with spellings combined
34
babies in 2025
#13
best rank (1964)
15,954
babies since 1964
Down 72
10-year rank change
Peter through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #147 |
| 2024 | 41 | #130 |
| 2023 | 44 | #128 |
| 2022 | 56 | #112 |
| 2021 | 50 | #128 |
| 2020 | 48 | #128 |
| 2019 | 64 | #108 |
| 2018 | 80 | #88 |
| 2017 | 82 | #88 |
| 2016 | 68 | #102 |
| 2015 | 103 | #75 |
| 2014 | 101 | #77 |
| 2013 | 70 | #101 |
| 2012 | 91 | #89 |
| 2011 | 90 | #87 |
| 2010 | 96 | #84 |
| 2009 | 128 | #67 |
| 2008 | 127 | #70 |
| 2007 | 121 | #65 |
| 2006 | 125 | #62 |
| 2005 | 117 | #64 |
| 2004 | 108 | #66 |
| 2003 | 134 | #50 |
| 2002 | 128 | #50 |
| 2001 | 151 | #48 |
| 2000 | 131 | #53 |
| 1999 | 140 | #48 |
| 1998 | 143 | #42 |
| 1997 | 206 | #41 |
| 1996 | 212 | #41 |
| 1995 | 214 | #37 |
| 1994 | 233 | #36 |
| 1993 | 226 | #38 |
| 1992 | 240 | #33 |
| 1991 | 224 | #38 |
| 1990 | 237 | #33 |
| 1989 | 260 | #32 |
| 1988 | 299 | #30 |
| 1987 | 306 | #32 |
| 1986 | 356 | #28 |
| 1985 | 366 | #24 |
| 1984 | 400 | #22 |
| 1983 | 440 | #22 |
| 1982 | 458 | #19 |
| 1981 | 467 | #19 |
| 1980 | 489 | #17 |
| 1979 | 447 | #17 |
| 1978 | 409 | #19 |
| 1977 | 415 | #19 |
| 1976 | 392 | #23 |
| 1975 | 432 | #20 |
| 1974 | 437 | #20 |
| 1973 | 470 | #18 |
| 1972 | 447 | #20 |
| 1971 | 521 | #17 |
| 1970 | 427 | #20 |
| 1969 | 490 | #16 |
| 1968 | 526 | #15 |
| 1967 | 531 | #14 |
| 1966 | 601 | #13 |
| 1965 | 578 | #14 |
| 1964 | 527 | #13 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Peter mean?
Stone, rock
Greek, from Petros, from petros (stone, rock).
Say it right
PEEter
The story of Peter
Peter comes from the Greek Petros, from petros, a stone or rock. In the New Testament it is the new name Jesus gave to Simon, a fisherman who became the leading apostle. Jesus called him Kefa in Aramaic, meaning rock, and Petros is the Greek version of that name. The Irish form is Peadar.
Saint Peter’s fame made the name common all over Christian Europe. Tradition says he died in Rome, and St Peter’s Basilica stands on the site linked with his burial.
Peter was a staple in Ireland in the 1960s. The most babies came in 1966, with 601 boys, when it was number 13. It has become much less common since, with 34 boys in 2025. It held up better in Northern Ireland, where it was number 22 in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Peter (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Peter (given name)
- Wikipedia: Saint Peter
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Pete
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Peter | 34 | 15,954 |
In Northern Ireland
#149 in 2025 with 15 babies. Best rank #22 (1998); 1,524 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.