How Many People Are Named Peter?

Complete statistics for the name Peter: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Peter
Rare
Greek

Peter means 'rock' in Greek and has been a steady choice for centuries. That's about 1 in 842 Americans today who are named Peter, making it uncommon but well-known. With over half being over 60, it's clear this name's popularity peaked in 1957.

~9,240
Living in US
1 in 35,871
Americans
1957
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Rock
🌐
Origin
Greek
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 1
Personality Traits
Strong Dependable
1
Life Path Number

Life-path number 1 symbolizes leadership and independence.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

1,234,567
Worldwide Bearers
#1,234
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
391,850

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
390,512 (100%)
♀ Female
1,337 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 64
64,504
Would be under 30 (11%)
184,548
Would be 30–60 (31%)
340,028
Would be over 60 (58%)

All 589,080 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1957

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
75
Modern Appeal
25
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Peter Through the Generations

Over the decades, Peter has seen its highs and lows, but it remains a classic name with a strong presence among older generations. Born in 1957, the peak year saw 11,629 Peters enter the world, while today, there are 391,850 people named Peter living in the United States. The age distribution reveals a significant skew towards those over 60, with 340,028 individuals in this category, indicating that Peter is predominantly associated with an older demographic.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 117,199
California 50,463
Massachusetts 44,699
New Jersey 37,443
Pennsylvania 37,140
Illinois 33,988
Michigan 22,081
Connecticut 21,116
Wisconsin 19,169
Ohio 17,602

⭐ Famous People Named Peter

Peter is a common masculine given name. It is derived directly from Greek Πέτρος, Petros, which itself was a translation of Aramaic Kefa, the new name Jesus gave to apostle Simon bar Jonah. An Old English variant is Piers.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Peter

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Peter's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Peter

How Many People Have the Name Peter?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 9,240 people in the United States currently share the name Peter. That works out to roughly 1 in every 35,871 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Peter a Common or Rare Name?

Peter is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Peter Mean?

Peter means "rock" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Peter in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Peter Most Popular?

The name Peter reached peak popularity in 1957, with 11,629 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Peter?

Approximately 9,240 people named Peter live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 9,240. That works out to roughly 1 in 35,871 Americans.

Is Peter a rare name?

Peter is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 35,871 Americans has this name.

What does the name Peter mean?

Peter means "rock" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Peter more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Peter are male and 0% are female.

When was Peter most popular?

Peter peaked in 1957 with 11,629 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US9,240
All-Time Births9,240
1 in X1 in 35,871
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age64
Peak Year1957
World Rank#1,234
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.