Baby Name Popularity Profile

Peter

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Peter.

✦ Rock 🌍 Greek biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #187
All-Time Peak Rank #31 Achieved 1880
Total U.S. Births 589,588 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 100.0% Boy / 0.0% Girl Male Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1950s 11,603 births in 1957
💡 The Peter Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Rock
Language Origin Greek
Origin Type single
Derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning 'stone' or 'rock'.
Common Nicknames
Pete Petey
Alternative Spellings
Pieter Piotr Pedro Pierre
Pronunciation: PEE-ter
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Peter

According to SSA data, Peter achieved its highest historical rank of #31 in 1880. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1957 with 11,603 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 0.8%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Peter across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +0.8% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 11,603 births in 1957
Years in Top 100 117 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 4,656
1890s: 4,028
1900s: 4,375
1910s: 24,935
1920s: 34,066
1930s: 35,822
1940s: 69,330
1950s: 102,747
1960s: 92,418
1970s: 62,320
1980s: 56,713
1990s: 42,394
2000s: 26,136
2010s: 18,725
2020s: 10,923

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Pe-ter
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with P, a letter used by only 1.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Peter.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Connecticut
Top States Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Connecticut #125 21,148 1957 +14.8% Growth
Rhode Island Unranked 6,677 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #156 44,732 1959 17.9% Decline
New Hampshire #120 5,125 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #96 2,736 1956 Insufficient historical volume
New York #174 117,080 1955 6.7% Decline
Maine #111 6,661 1961 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #180 37,499 1956 14.9% Decline
Alaska #82 1,645 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #141 19,214 1956 +40.6% Growth
District of Columbia #46 4,207 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #139 16,257 1957 7.7% Decline
Hawaii #173 2,686 1958 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #168 2,366 1924 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #183 37,194 1957 6.6% Decline
Illinois #153 34,056 1959 +34.5% Growth
Delaware Unranked 1,329 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #184 22,137 1957 +7.5% Growth
Washington #170 9,213 1980 1.9% Decline
Montana #107 1,697 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #116 4,639 1979 +36.0% Growth
California #256 50,522 1959 7.0% Decline
Colorado #142 5,130 1990 +10.9% Growth
Maryland #166 6,394 1957 +23.3% Growth
New Mexico Unranked 2,263 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #96 3,298 2017 20.9% Decline
South Dakota #141 1,341 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #197 17,666 1961 7.1% Decline
Arizona #192 4,496 1961 +21.1% Growth
Louisiana #188 6,380 1959 +3.7% Growth
Iowa #186 4,547 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming #116 454 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #319 1,067 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #236 10,560 1990 +23.3% Growth
Virginia #135 6,908 1986 +15.8% Growth
Idaho #123 1,173 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #120 6,677 1954 +63.4% Growth
Nebraska #172 2,065 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #201 5,986 1956 Stable
Kansas #150 2,659 1964 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #176 2,657 1917 +28.0% Growth
Texas #242 13,341 1986 +25.6% Growth
Georgia #207 4,536 2001 +62.2% Growth
North Carolina #243 4,361 1960 +20.9% Growth
Alabama #443 2,594 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #307 1,771 1955 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 1,214 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #196 1,770 1964 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #230 2,567 1955 +25.8% Growth
Kentucky #210 1,901 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #389 974 1971 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Alan Steven Timothy David Rocky Allen Danny Robin Roger Ricky
👧 Sister Suggestions
Diana Valerie Margo Julie Ellen Susan Karen Delia Cindy Donna

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Demographic & Volume Peers
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