Peter

Last seen for girls in 2022 at #13,592 · #187 for boys in 2025, 1,954 births
Given to boys 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1880 · 496 births
Debut · boys
496 births
In top 100 · boys
117 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
589,588
since 1880

Peter over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201938peak #31, 1880boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1871,954
2024—#1921,899
2023—#2101,750
2022#13,5926#2131,773
2021—#2151,785
2020—#2151,762
2019—#2121,821
2018—#2111,826
2017—#2131,793
2016—#2071,927
2015—#2051,939
2014—#2041,923
2013—#2061,854
2012—#2041,869
2011—#1971,838
2010—#1931,935
2009—#1902,009
2008—#1812,186
2007—#1772,340
2006#17,1685#1672,481
2005#14,5026#1612,555
2004#12,7617#1432,790
2003—#1462,804
2002—#1342,873
2001—#1332,950
2000#13,1546#1253,148
1999—#1053,439
1998—#1113,388
1997#8,33410#1023,829
1996#10,5677#954,082
1995#5,95815#894,112
1994#5,71316#874,225
1993#8,7199#824,538
1992#5,26718#814,598
1991#7,43011#774,959
1990#4,52321#745,224
1989#4,35821#665,411
1988#3,30629#645,425
1987#2,91533#645,553
1986#2,30044#605,797
1985#3,00830#605,671
1984#2,26643#605,633
1983#2,47537#595,482
1982#2,36941#575,777
1981#2,72333#555,997
1980#2,15447#555,967
1979#2,43038#536,079
1978#2,43136#545,872
1977#2,55733#555,821
1976#2,38734#545,445
1975#3,15522#545,698
1974#2,43331#505,940
1973#2,68926#525,913
1972#2,39830#486,471
1971#2,10739#477,025
1970#2,04340#448,056
1969#2,10236#437,832
1968#2,20530#398,122
1967#2,49224#398,311
1966#2,02233#398,584
1965#2,74420#399,395
1964#3,24416#399,911
1963#2,54323#409,614
1962#3,16116#439,585
1961#1,83839#4210,349
1960#2,06131#4210,715
1959#2,19127#4011,289
1958#2,58120#4110,757
1957#2,21825#3711,603
1956#2,62219#3711,334
1955#2,55319#3511,003
1954#2,59218#3710,085
1953#2,17323#389,729
1952#3,04013#369,586
1951#2,81014#388,999
1950#4,7386#378,362
1949#2,51416#388,266
1948#2,12621#378,048
1947#2,27919#368,590
1946#2,48215#387,483
1945#1,79522#386,483
1944#1,80822#406,340
1943#2,15117#396,877
1942#2,04618#396,587
1941#2,39713#445,607
1940#1,79220#435,049
1939#2,59211#464,639
1938#2,02116#484,293
1937#2,19614#523,809
1936#2,26313#563,714
1935#2,57511#593,422
1934#1,55623#613,290
1933#1,97016#603,137
1932#1,63422#623,130
1931#2,02416#613,122
1930#2,11016#563,266
1929#1,55525#553,216
1928#1,46929#563,299
1927#1,61926#593,301
1926#1,99719#583,358
1925#2,61713#603,373
1924#2,21217#593,520
1923#2,09118#583,409
1922#1,73024#573,545
1921#2,28216#573,548
1920#2,17217#573,497
1919#2,15616#573,375
1918#2,82211#533,711
1917#2,42813#503,464
1916#2,36813#503,370
1915#1,67220#483,302
1914#2,00912#482,624
1913#2,1649#511,934
1912#2,9795#481,679
1911#2,4635#50845
1910—#56631
1909—#56539
1908—#53541
1907—#61473
1906#1,7276#59427
1905—#62409
1904—#62395
1903—#58372
1902—#51433
1901—#56343
1900—#58443
1899#1,3946#53354
1898—#54409
1897—#51397
1896—#52402
1895—#53412
1894—#55391
1893—#53392
1892—#45465
1891—#45396
1890—#43410
1889—#45425
1888—#41498
1887#1,0366#43421
1886—#42437
1885—#33516
1884—#34524
1883—#36450
1882—#36461
1881—#37428
1880—#31496
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Peter was already there! It came in at #31, and was given to 496 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1886–1907, when fewer than 500 boys a year got the name.

Where Peter is popular in 1938

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #8 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 33 boysAKMaine: #24 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 102 boysMEVermont: #30 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 112 boysVTNew Hampshire: #19 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 74 boysNHWashington: #63 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 294 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Peter, so not publishedIDMontana: #89 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 397 boysMTNorth Dakota: #70 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 279 boysNDMinnesota: #40 for boys · 107 births · 1 in 210 boysMNIllinois: #39 for boys · 267 births · 1 in 214 boysILWisconsin: #35 for boys · 134 births · 1 in 185 boysWIMichigan: #45 for boys · 195 births · 1 in 227 boysMINew York: #18 for boys · 1,229 births · 1 in 72 boysNYMassachusetts: #17 for boys · 382 births · 1 in 75 boysMARhode Island: #20 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 83 boysRIOregon: #70 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 293 boysORNevada: #37 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 115 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Peter, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #98 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 406 boysSDIowa: #102 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 557 boysIAIndiana: #113 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 692 boysINOhio: #73 for boys · 123 births · 1 in 429 boysOHPennsylvania: #49 for boys · 294 births · 1 in 259 boysPANew Jersey: #18 for boys · 317 births · 1 in 80 boysNJConnecticut: #19 for boys · 166 births · 1 in 63 boysCTCalifornia: #45 for boys · 230 births · 1 in 205 boysCAUtah: #120 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 527 boysUTColorado: #106 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 467 boysCONebraska: #163 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,000 boysNEMissouri: #140 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 869 boysMOKentucky: #357 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,995 boysKYWest Virginia: #197 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,475 boysWVVirginia: #208 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,553 boysVAMaryland: #97 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 593 boysMDDelaware: #51 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 239 boysDEArizona: #87 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 306 boysAZNew Mexico: #125 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 473 boysNMKansas: #145 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 779 boysKSArkansas: #369 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,639 boysARTennessee: #229 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,062 boysTNNorth Carolina: #310 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,246 boysNCSouth Carolina: #186 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,212 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #31 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 170 boysDCOklahoma: #269 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,343 boysOKLouisiana: #88 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 351 boysLAMississippi: #126 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 739 boysMSAlabama: #250 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,964 boysALGeorgia: #236 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,972 boysGAHawaii: #45 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 142 boysHITexas: #263 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 1,644 boysTXFlorida: #110 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 576 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Alaska#8 · 1 in 33
  2. Massachusetts#17 · 1 in 75
  3. New York#18 · 1 in 72
  4. New Jersey#18 · 1 in 80
  5. Connecticut#19 · 1 in 63

Best ever in a state: #2 in Alaska, 1930.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Alaska#8111 in 33
Massachusetts#173821 in 75
New Jersey#183171 in 80
New York#181,2291 in 72
Connecticut#191661 in 63
New Hampshire#19421 in 74
Rhode Island#20541 in 83
Maine#24611 in 102
Vermont#30221 in 112
District of Columbia#31311 in 170
Wisconsin#351341 in 185
Nevada#3751 in 115
Illinois#392671 in 214
Minnesota#401071 in 210
California#452301 in 205
Hawaii#45231 in 142
Michigan#451951 in 227
Pennsylvania#492941 in 259
Delaware#5171 in 239
Washington#63401 in 294
North Dakota#70191 in 279
Oregon#70241 in 293
Ohio#731231 in 429
Arizona#87161 in 306
Louisiana#88611 in 351
Montana#89111 in 397
Maryland#97211 in 593
South Dakota#98121 in 406
Iowa#102361 in 557
Colorado#106201 in 467
Florida#110241 in 576
Indiana#113391 in 692
Utah#120101 in 527
New Mexico#125121 in 473
Mississippi#126291 in 739
Missouri#140321 in 869
Kansas#145171 in 779
Nebraska#163101 in 1,000
South Carolina#186161 in 1,212
West Virginia#197131 in 1,475
Virginia#208151 in 1,553
Tennessee#229131 in 2,062
Georgia#236151 in 1,972
Alabama#250141 in 1,964
Texas#263361 in 1,644
Oklahoma#26991 in 2,343
North Carolina#310111 in 3,246
Kentucky#35771 in 3,995
Arkansas#36951 in 3,639
Idaho———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Peter
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 5 spots since 2024 (#192 → #187)
  • 28 spots since 2020 (#215 → #187)
  • 18 spots since 2015 (#205 → #187)
  • Biggest jump: 18 spots in 2024 (#210 → #192)
  • Biggest drop: 20 spots in 2000 (#105 → #125)
Rise & fade · boys
Peaked on debut
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1880 at #31 (496 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 117 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 117 yrs · run 1880–1996
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 186
  • Highest: 1 in 186 boys born in 1957 were named Peter (0.54%)
  • Latest: 1 in 874 boys born in 2025 (0.11%)
  • Its best rank, #31 in 1880, was only 1 in 223 (0.45%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 17.4% of all boys named Peter (102,747) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s4,656#31 (1880)#38
1890s4,028#43 (1890)#50
1900s4,375#51 (1902)#58
1910s24,935#48 (1915)#51
1920s34,066#55 (1929)#58
1930s35,822#46 (1939)#56
1940s69,330#36 (1947)#39
1950s102,747#35 (1955)#38
1960s92,418#39 (1964)#41
1970s62,320#44 (1970)#51
1980s56,713#55 (1981)#60
1990s42,394#74 (1990)#90
2000s26,136#125 (2000)#156
2010s18,725#193 (2010)#205
2020s10,923#187 (2025)#205

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Peter in 1938

girls
#2,021
16 births · 1 in 68,966 girls
boys
#48
4,293 births · 1 in 258 boys

Top girls' names in 1938

  1. #1Mary56,225
  2. #2Barbara39,277
  3. #3Patricia27,560
  4. #4Betty25,506
  5. #5Shirley23,766
  6. #6Carol19,421
  7. #7Nancy18,951
  8. #8Dorothy16,358
  9. #9Margaret15,330
  10. #10Joan14,303
  11. #2,021Peter16

Top boys' names in 1938

  1. #1Robert62,271
  2. #2James59,102
  3. #3John50,517
  4. #4William42,433
  5. #5Richard34,385
  6. #6Charles31,151
  7. #7Donald26,677
  8. #8David22,994
  9. #9Thomas21,381
  10. #10Ronald20,295
  11. #48Peter4,293
More about 1938

girls

1,103,456 girls got a published name in 1938; 1 in 68,966 of them was named Peter, which outranked 59.5% of the 4,995 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Peter
  1. #1,945Wynema17
  2. #1,945Yvonna17
  3. #1,945Zulema17
  4. #2,021Peter16
  5. #2,021Agness16
  6. #2,021Albina16
  7. #2,021Amada16
  8. #2,113Alena15
  9. #2,113Alfredia15
  10. #2,113Alvena15

Tied with 91 names at #2,021; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,209Danielle#2,940 → #731
  2. ↑ 833Lorelei#1,451 → #618
  3. ↑ 623Helaine#1,493 → #870
  4. ↑ 399Janine#1,330 → #931
  5. ↑ 392Imelda#1,282 → #890
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,261Noreta#964 → #2,225
  2. ↓ 513Norita#532 → #1,045
  3. ↓ 432Noretta#856 → #1,288
  4. ↓ 366Ferne#950 → #1,316
  5. ↓ 327Verdell#904 → #1,231

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,109,147 boys got a published name in 1938; 1 in 258 of them was named Peter, which outranked 98.8% of the 4,035 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Peter
  1. #45Jimmy4,730
  2. #46Anthony4,689
  3. #47Louis4,390
  4. #48Peter4,293
  5. #49Dennis4,236
  6. #50Earl4,007
  7. #51Francis3,951
Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,314Dion#2,197 → #883
  2. ↑ 448Tex#1,212 → #764
  3. ↑ 425Lonny#1,233 → #808
  4. ↑ 401Gonzalo#1,180 → #779
  5. ↑ 383Lance#722 → #339
Fallers
  1. ↓ 741Worth#1,000 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 528Estel#869 → #1,397
  3. ↓ 492Milburn#845 → #1,337
  4. ↓ 412Lonzo#835 → #1,247
  5. ↓ 405Joy#932 → #1,337

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1938 →