Peter the Great
Russian Tsar who modernized the empire
Boy New Testament Very common
Peter
a rock or stone
Πέτρος Petros
Peter (Greek: Πέτρος, Petros) means “a rock or stone”, by traditional interpretation. It belongs to one man who carries two names in the text — he is also called Simon. In 2025 it was given to 1,954 children in the United States, ranking 187. Around 591,531 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Andrew in John 1.
Merged person graphTIPNR + BibleData
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Peter
TIPNR + BibleDataSSA · public domain
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
Concordance Depth Index
118.6 · rank 20
US usage today
rank 187 · 1,954 births in 2025
TIPNR + BibleDataSTEPBible · CC BY
At a glance
- Verses
- 179 across 9 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- New
- Era
- Gospels
Merged person graph179 verse pairs
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Matthew 4:18 |
| Last appears | 2 Peter 1:1 |
| Two names, one person | Peter/Simon |
| Cross-references | 4,381 linked passages |
SSA · public domainibge_censoine_es_edad_mediaIRN PT
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Peter | rank 187 · 1,954 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Brazil | PEDRO | 1,219,605 bearers · born 1930–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | PEDRO | 199,883 bearers · mean age 55.8 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Pedro | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
SSA · public domainBirths in year
Using it today
Very unlikely to share a classroom with another.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 1,954 | Steady |
| All-time total | 591,531 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 11,628 in 1957 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
Computed · A2/A3Rationale generated
Names connected to this one
- Simon renaming pair Called Simon before John 1:42 — one person, two names in the text.
- John co-occurrence Appears with John in Acts 3.
- James co-occurrence Appears with James in Acts 1.
- Andrew co-occurrence Appears with Andrew in John 1.
- Zebedee co-occurrence Appears with Zebedee in Matthew 10.
- Bartholomew co-occurrence Appears with Bartholomew in Acts 1.
- Tabitha co-occurrence Appears with Tabitha in Acts 9.
- Simon co-occurrence Appears with Simon in Acts 10.
Origin & meaning
Strong's number
G4074G
Greek
Πέτρος
Transliteration
Petros
Πέτρος, -ου, ὁ (i.e. a stone, see: πέτρα, Κηφᾶς),
Simon Peter, the Apostle: Mat.4:18 10:2, Mrk.3:16, Luk.5:8, Jhn.1:41, 43, al.
(AS)
Peter, also known as Simon, Cephas, or Simon Bar-Jonah, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and a prominent leader in the early Christian church.
The biblical story
Peter, originally named Simon, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and played a crucial role in the early Christian church. He was the son of Jonah (or John) and the brother of Andrew, who introduced him to Jesus (Jhn.1.40-42). Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), which means "rock" (Jhn.1.42, Mat.16.18).
Peter was a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee (Jhn.1.44) and was married (Mat.8.14; 1Co.9.5). He became one of Jesus' closest disciples, known for his bold faith and leadership. He was part of Jesus' inner circle, witnessing key events such as the Transfiguration (Mat.17.1-9) and Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane (Mrk.14.32-42).
Despite his devotion, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times during Jesus' trial (Luk.22.54-62). After Jesus' resurrection, Peter was restored and commissioned to lead the church (Jhn.21.15-19). On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached powerfully, and about 3,000 people were baptized (Act.2.14-41).
Peter was instrumental in spreading the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. He performed miracles (Act.3.1-10; 9.32-43) and defended the inclusion of Gentiles in the church (Acts 10-11; Act.15.7-11). He wrote two epistles, 1 and 2 Peter, to encourage and instruct believers facing persecution.
Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome during Nero's reign, crucified upside down at his request, as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
Key verses
Peter appears in 179 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Matthew 4:18 -
And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
Matthew 8:14 -
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Matthew 10:2 -
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Matthew 14:28 -
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Matthew 14:29
Show all 179 references
Matthew (26)
- Matthew 4:18
- Matthew 8:14
- Matthew 10:2
- Matthew 14:28
- Matthew 14:29
- Matthew 15:15
- Matthew 16:16
- Matthew 16:17
- Matthew 16:18
- Matthew 16:22
- Matthew 16:23
- Matthew 17:1
- Matthew 17:4
- Matthew 17:24
- Matthew 17:25
- Matthew 17:26
- Matthew 18:21
- Matthew 19:27
- Matthew 26:33
- Matthew 26:35
- Matthew 26:37
- Matthew 26:40
- Matthew 26:58
- Matthew 26:69
- Matthew 26:73
- Matthew 26:75
Mark (24)
- Mark 1:16
- Mark 1:29
- Mark 1:30
- Mark 1:36
- Mark 3:16
- Mark 5:37
- Mark 8:29
- Mark 8:32
- Mark 8:33
- Mark 9:2
- Mark 9:5
- Mark 10:28
- Mark 11:21
- Mark 13:3
- Mark 14:29
- Mark 14:33
- Mark 14:37
- Mark 14:54
- Mark 14:66
- Mark 14:67
- Mark 14:70
- Mark 14:72
- Mark 16:6
- Mark 16:7
Luke (26)
- Luke 4:38
- Luke 5:3
- Luke 5:4
- Luke 5:5
- Luke 5:8
- Luke 5:10
- Luke 6:14
- Luke 8:45
- Luke 8:51
- Luke 9:20
- Luke 9:28
- Luke 9:32
- Luke 9:33
- Luke 12:41
- Luke 18:28
- Luke 22:8
- Luke 22:31
- Luke 22:34
- Luke 22:54
- Luke 22:55
- Luke 22:58
- Luke 22:60
- Luke 22:61
- Luke 22:62
- Luke 24:12
- Luke 24:34
John (34)
- John 1:40
- John 1:41
- John 1:42
- John 1:44
- John 6:8
- John 6:68
- John 13:6
- John 13:8
- John 13:9
- John 13:24
- John 13:36
- John 13:37
- John 18:10
- John 18:11
- John 18:15
- John 18:16
- John 18:17
- John 18:18
- John 18:25
- John 18:26
- John 18:27
- John 20:2
- John 20:3
- John 20:4
- John 20:6
- John 21:2
- John 21:3
- John 21:7
- John 21:11
- John 21:15
- John 21:16
- John 21:17
- John 21:20
- John 21:21
Acts (57)
- Acts 1:13
- Acts 1:15
- Acts 2:14
- Acts 2:37
- Acts 2:38
- Acts 3:1
- Acts 3:3
- Acts 3:4
- Acts 3:6
- Acts 3:11
- Acts 3:12
- Acts 4:8
- Acts 4:13
- Acts 4:19
- Acts 5:3
- Acts 5:8
- Acts 5:9
- Acts 5:15
- Acts 5:29
- Acts 8:14
- Acts 8:20
- Acts 9:32
- Acts 9:34
- Acts 9:38
- Acts 9:39
- Acts 9:40
- Acts 10:5
- Acts 10:9
- Acts 10:13
- Acts 10:14
- Acts 10:17
- Acts 10:18
- Acts 10:19
- Acts 10:21
- Acts 10:23
- Acts 10:25
- Acts 10:26
- Acts 10:32
- Acts 10:34
- Acts 10:44
- Acts 10:45
- Acts 10:46
- Acts 11:2
- Acts 11:4
- Acts 11:7
- Acts 11:13
- Acts 12:3
- Acts 12:5
- Acts 12:6
- Acts 12:7
- Acts 12:11
- Acts 12:13
- Acts 12:14
- Acts 12:16
- Acts 12:18
- Acts 15:7
- Acts 15:14
1 Corinthians (4)
- 1 Corinthians 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 3:22
- 1 Corinthians 9:5
- 1 Corinthians 15:5
Galatians (6)
- Galatians 1:18
- Galatians 2:7
- Galatians 2:8
- Galatians 2:9
- Galatians 2:11
- Galatians 2:14
1 Peter (1)
- 1 Peter 1:1
2 Peter (1)
- 2 Peter 1:1
Name variants & nicknames
- Pete — nickname
- Petey — nickname
- Pedro — Spanish & Portuguese
- Petros — Greek form
- Cephas — Aramaic form (John 1:42)
Notable people with this name
Peter Jackson
New Zealand director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Peter Dinklage
Emmy-winning American actor (Game of Thrones)
Peter Sellers
British comedic actor (The Pink Panther)