47 Variations of Peter

Peter is derived from the Greek Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone." One of the most important figures in the Christian hagiography is Saint Peter, keeper of the Gates of Heaven. Born Simon bar Jonah, he was given the nickname Peter by Jesus, to signify that he would be the rock on which Christ would build Christianity. Centuries later, there was Peter the Great, the czar who developed Russia as a major European power.

One of the most familiar — if not stereotypical — Gallic names. Pierre was a Top 5 name in France from the 19th century through 1940 and is now on a steady decline in its native land. In the US, Pierre was most common in the 1980s but it has never cracked the Top 300.

Pedro is one of the most familiar Spanish names for boys, via baseball star Pedro Rodriguez and many others.

Yet another winning international form of Peter.

Piero is elegant, melodic, appealing. Just picture the muted frescoes of Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca.

This is a straightforward choice for parents looking to honor their Greek ancestry.

Creative variation on Peter.

A form of the Biblical classic, in Greek, the first syllable is emphasized, whereas in Armenian, the second is stressed. Notable bearers are Greek tennis player Petros Tsitsipas and footballer Petros Mantalos, while historically, Petros Bereketis and Petros Byzantios were Greek-Ottoman musicians.

So simple, yet so unique: a prime candidate for export. Pronunciation is like the English pair or pear.

So simple, yet so unique: a prime candidate for export. Pronunciation is like the English pair or pear.

Wonderful nickname name most often associated in this country with Dutch modernist painter Mondrian. Pronounced PEET.

A variant transcription of Russian Pyotr, and also the Polish and Belarusian form of Peter, classic and still very popular there.

Peder? You mean Peter? You'll have to do a lot of spelling and explaining of this one.

Peder? You mean Peter? You'll have to do a lot of spelling and explaining of this one.

An unexplored choice, evocative of the snowcapped Andes, with a pleasant, catchy sound.

Peadair is one way to reinvent a classic, though insisting on the authentic pronunciation could cause problems.

For Americans, may prove too much of a twist on Peter.

The Finnish form of Peter was most common in its culture of origin in the 1950s and '60s.