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
- Peak · boys
- 1880 · 496 births
- Debut · boys
- 496 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 117 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 589,588since 1880
Peter over time
boys
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
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
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #187 | 1,954 | |
| 2024 | — | #192 | 1,899 | |
| 2023 | — | #210 | 1,750 | |
| 2022 | #13,592 | 6 | #213 | 1,773 |
| 2021 | — | #215 | 1,785 | |
| 2020 | — | #215 | 1,762 | |
| 2019 | — | #212 | 1,821 | |
| 2018 | — | #211 | 1,826 | |
| 2017 | — | #213 | 1,793 | |
| 2016 | — | #207 | 1,927 | |
| 2015 | — | #205 | 1,939 | |
| 2014 | — | #204 | 1,923 | |
| 2013 | — | #206 | 1,854 | |
| 2012 | — | #204 | 1,869 | |
| 2011 | — | #197 | 1,838 | |
| 2010 | — | #193 | 1,935 | |
| 2009 | — | #190 | 2,009 | |
| 2008 | — | #181 | 2,186 | |
| 2007 | — | #177 | 2,340 | |
| 2006 | #17,168 | 5 | #167 | 2,481 |
| 2005 | #14,502 | 6 | #161 | 2,555 |
| 2004 | #12,761 | 7 | #143 | 2,790 |
| 2003 | — | #146 | 2,804 | |
| 2002 | — | #134 | 2,873 | |
| 2001 | — | #133 | 2,950 | |
| 2000 | #13,154 | 6 | #125 | 3,148 |
| 1999 | — | #105 | 3,439 | |
| 1998 | — | #111 | 3,388 | |
| 1997 | #8,334 | 10 | #102 | 3,829 |
| 1996 | #10,567 | 7 | #95 | 4,082 |
| 1995 | #5,958 | 15 | #89 | 4,112 |
| 1994 | #5,713 | 16 | #87 | 4,225 |
| 1993 | #8,719 | 9 | #82 | 4,538 |
| 1992 | #5,267 | 18 | #81 | 4,598 |
| 1991 | #7,430 | 11 | #77 | 4,959 |
| 1990 | #4,523 | 21 | #74 | 5,224 |
| 1989 | #4,358 | 21 | #66 | 5,411 |
| 1988 | #3,306 | 29 | #64 | 5,425 |
| 1987 | #2,915 | 33 | #64 | 5,553 |
| 1986 | #2,300 | 44 | #60 | 5,797 |
| 1985 | #3,008 | 30 | #60 | 5,671 |
| 1984 | #2,266 | 43 | #60 | 5,633 |
| 1983 | #2,475 | 37 | #59 | 5,482 |
| 1982 | #2,369 | 41 | #57 | 5,777 |
| 1981 | #2,723 | 33 | #55 | 5,997 |
| 1980 | #2,154 | 47 | #55 | 5,967 |
| 1979 | #2,430 | 38 | #53 | 6,079 |
| 1978 | #2,431 | 36 | #54 | 5,872 |
| 1977 | #2,557 | 33 | #55 | 5,821 |
| 1976 | #2,387 | 34 | #54 | 5,445 |
| 1975 | #3,155 | 22 | #54 | 5,698 |
| 1974 | #2,433 | 31 | #50 | 5,940 |
| 1973 | #2,689 | 26 | #52 | 5,913 |
| 1972 | #2,398 | 30 | #48 | 6,471 |
| 1971 | #2,107 | 39 | #47 | 7,025 |
| 1970 | #2,043 | 40 | #44 | 8,056 |
| 1969 | #2,102 | 36 | #43 | 7,832 |
| 1968 | #2,205 | 30 | #39 | 8,122 |
| 1967 | #2,492 | 24 | #39 | 8,311 |
| 1966 | #2,022 | 33 | #39 | 8,584 |
| 1965 | #2,744 | 20 | #39 | 9,395 |
| 1964 | #3,244 | 16 | #39 | 9,911 |
| 1963 | #2,543 | 23 | #40 | 9,614 |
| 1962 | #3,161 | 16 | #43 | 9,585 |
| 1961 | #1,838 | 39 | #42 | 10,349 |
| 1960 | #2,061 | 31 | #42 | 10,715 |
| 1959 | #2,191 | 27 | #40 | 11,289 |
| 1958 | #2,581 | 20 | #41 | 10,757 |
| 1957 | #2,218 | 25 | #37 | 11,603 |
| 1956 | #2,622 | 19 | #37 | 11,334 |
| 1955 | #2,553 | 19 | #35 | 11,003 |
| 1954 | #2,592 | 18 | #37 | 10,085 |
| 1953 | #2,173 | 23 | #38 | 9,729 |
| 1952 | #3,040 | 13 | #36 | 9,586 |
| 1951 | #2,810 | 14 | #38 | 8,999 |
| 1950 | #4,738 | 6 | #37 | 8,362 |
| 1949 | #2,514 | 16 | #38 | 8,266 |
| 1948 | #2,126 | 21 | #37 | 8,048 |
| 1947 | #2,279 | 19 | #36 | 8,590 |
| 1946 | #2,482 | 15 | #38 | 7,483 |
| 1945 | #1,795 | 22 | #38 | 6,483 |
| 1944 | #1,808 | 22 | #40 | 6,340 |
| 1943 | #2,151 | 17 | #39 | 6,877 |
| 1942 | #2,046 | 18 | #39 | 6,587 |
| 1941 | #2,397 | 13 | #44 | 5,607 |
| 1940 | #1,792 | 20 | #43 | 5,049 |
| 1939 | #2,592 | 11 | #46 | 4,639 |
| 1938 | #2,021 | 16 | #48 | 4,293 |
| 1937 | #2,196 | 14 | #52 | 3,809 |
| 1936 | #2,263 | 13 | #56 | 3,714 |
| 1935 | #2,575 | 11 | #59 | 3,422 |
| 1934 | #1,556 | 23 | #61 | 3,290 |
| 1933 | #1,970 | 16 | #60 | 3,137 |
| 1932 | #1,634 | 22 | #62 | 3,130 |
| 1931 | #2,024 | 16 | #61 | 3,122 |
| 1930 | #2,110 | 16 | #56 | 3,266 |
| 1929 | #1,555 | 25 | #55 | 3,216 |
| 1928 | #1,469 | 29 | #56 | 3,299 |
| 1927 | #1,619 | 26 | #59 | 3,301 |
| 1926 | #1,997 | 19 | #58 | 3,358 |
| 1925 | #2,617 | 13 | #60 | 3,373 |
| 1924 | #2,212 | 17 | #59 | 3,520 |
| 1923 | #2,091 | 18 | #58 | 3,409 |
| 1922 | #1,730 | 24 | #57 | 3,545 |
| 1921 | #2,282 | 16 | #57 | 3,548 |
| 1920 | #2,172 | 17 | #57 | 3,497 |
| 1919 | #2,156 | 16 | #57 | 3,375 |
| 1918 | #2,822 | 11 | #53 | 3,711 |
| 1917 | #2,428 | 13 | #50 | 3,464 |
| 1916 | #2,368 | 13 | #50 | 3,370 |
| 1915 | #1,672 | 20 | #48 | 3,302 |
| 1914 | #2,009 | 12 | #48 | 2,624 |
| 1913 | #2,164 | 9 | #51 | 1,934 |
| 1912 | #2,979 | 5 | #48 | 1,679 |
| 1911 | #2,463 | 5 | #50 | 845 |
| 1910 | — | #56 | 631 | |
| 1909 | — | #56 | 539 | |
| 1908 | — | #53 | 541 | |
| 1907 | — | #61 | 473 | |
| 1906 | #1,727 | 6 | #59 | 427 |
| 1905 | — | #62 | 409 | |
| 1904 | — | #62 | 395 | |
| 1903 | — | #58 | 372 | |
| 1902 | — | #51 | 433 | |
| 1901 | — | #56 | 343 | |
| 1900 | — | #58 | 443 | |
| 1899 | #1,394 | 6 | #53 | 354 |
| 1898 | — | #54 | 409 | |
| 1897 | — | #51 | 397 | |
| 1896 | — | #52 | 402 | |
| 1895 | — | #53 | 412 | |
| 1894 | — | #55 | 391 | |
| 1893 | — | #53 | 392 | |
| 1892 | — | #45 | 465 | |
| 1891 | — | #45 | 396 | |
| 1890 | — | #43 | 410 | |
| 1889 | — | #45 | 425 | |
| 1888 | — | #41 | 498 | |
| 1887 | #1,036 | 6 | #43 | 421 |
| 1886 | — | #42 | 437 | |
| 1885 | — | #33 | 516 | |
| 1884 | — | #34 | 524 | |
| 1883 | — | #36 | 450 | |
| 1882 | — | #36 | 461 | |
| 1881 | — | #37 | 428 | |
| 1880 | — | #31 | 496 | |
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 2012
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- District of Columbia#68 · 1 in 217
- Connecticut#96 · 1 in 359
- Massachusetts#96 · 1 in 380
- New Hampshire#105 · 1 in 339
- New York#118 · 1 in 564
Best ever in a state: #2 in Alaska, 1930.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #68 | 19 | 1 in 217 |
| Connecticut | #96 | 40 | 1 in 359 |
| Massachusetts | #96 | 78 | 1 in 380 |
| New Hampshire | #105 | 14 | 1 in 339 |
| New York | #118 | 185 | 1 in 564 |
| New Jersey | #123 | 70 | 1 in 592 |
| Minnesota | #127 | 54 | 1 in 513 |
| Washington | #128 | 68 | 1 in 528 |
| Idaho | #134 | 18 | 1 in 450 |
| Maryland | #144 | 44 | 1 in 630 |
| Utah | #147 | 41 | 1 in 528 |
| Virginia | #150 | 63 | 1 in 664 |
| Delaware | #151 | 7 | 1 in 507 |
| Maine | #157 | 9 | 1 in 527 |
| Colorado | #159 | 43 | 1 in 631 |
| Alaska | #160 | 7 | 1 in 481 |
| Oregon | #160 | 31 | 1 in 583 |
| Wisconsin | #160 | 43 | 1 in 635 |
| Illinois | #169 | 86 | 1 in 773 |
| Pennsylvania | #169 | 78 | 1 in 772 |
| Kansas | #177 | 24 | 1 in 671 |
| Rhode Island | #186 | 5 | 1 in 786 |
| Missouri | #193 | 40 | 1 in 794 |
| Michigan | #201 | 52 | 1 in 916 |
| California | #218 | 221 | 1 in 1,043 |
| North Dakota | #220 | 5 | 1 in 770 |
| Ohio | #240 | 49 | 1 in 1,220 |
| Arizona | #242 | 38 | 1 in 973 |
| Nebraska | #242 | 11 | 1 in 899 |
| Indiana | #265 | 30 | 1 in 1,189 |
| North Carolina | #265 | 39 | 1 in 1,296 |
| Tennessee | #284 | 25 | 1 in 1,432 |
| Florida | #286 | 58 | 1 in 1,586 |
| Georgia | #287 | 37 | 1 in 1,460 |
| Texas | #291 | 117 | 1 in 1,518 |
| Nevada | #296 | 10 | 1 in 1,328 |
| New Mexico | #305 | 7 | 1 in 1,385 |
| South Carolina | #312 | 13 | 1 in 1,609 |
| Iowa | #319 | 11 | 1 in 1,375 |
| Louisiana | #325 | 16 | 1 in 1,511 |
| Oklahoma | #335 | 14 | 1 in 1,447 |
| Kentucky | #346 | 11 | 1 in 2,016 |
| Arkansas | #375 | 8 | 1 in 1,785 |
| Alabama | #415 | 10 | 1 in 2,220 |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| 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
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 4,656 | #31 (1880) | #38 |
| 1890s | 4,028 | #43 (1890) | #50 |
| 1900s | 4,375 | #51 (1902) | #58 |
| 1910s | 24,935 | #48 (1915) | #51 |
| 1920s | 34,066 | #55 (1929) | #58 |
| 1930s | 35,822 | #46 (1939) | #56 |
| 1940s | 69,330 | #36 (1947) | #39 |
| 1950s | 102,747 | #35 (1955) | #38 |
| 1960s | 92,418 | #39 (1964) | #41 |
| 1970s | 62,320 | #44 (1970) | #51 |
| 1980s | 56,713 | #55 (1981) | #60 |
| 1990s | 42,394 | #74 (1990) | #90 |
| 2000s | 26,136 | #125 (2000) | #156 |
| 2010s | 18,725 | #193 (2010) | #205 |
| 2020s | 10,923 | #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 2012
boys
#204
1,869 births · 1 in 1,015 boys
Top boys' names in 2012
More about 2012
boys
1,896,946 boys got a published name in 2012; 1 in 1,015 of them was named Peter, which outranked 98.6% of the 14,250 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 8.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Peter
Biggest movers since 2011
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.