Pete
Pete is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Rock or stone.
Origin and history
Pete is a traditional English short form of Peter, originating from the Greek word petros, meaning stone or rock. It has historically served as a standalone given name in the United States, peaking in popularity during the mid-20th century. Today it remains a recognizable, classic option usually chosen as a familiar nickname or minimalist legal name.
Popularity in the United States
43,530 babies in the United States have been named Pete since 1880. It ranks #547 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1611.
States where it is most popular
- TX (20.9 %)
- CA (15.6 %)
- PA (6.7 %)
- OH (4.6 %)
- NM (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 590 |
| 1890-1900 | 651 |
| 1900-1910 | 949 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,352 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,285 |
| 1930-1940 | 5,529 |
| 1940-1950 | 6,130 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,926 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,153 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,854 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,964 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,339 |
| 2000-2010 | 893 |
| 2010-2019 | 599 |
| 2020-2029 | 316 |
Famous people named Pete
- Pete Rose: Baseball Player, Manager
- Pete Sampras: Tennis Player
- Pete Townshend: Musician, Songwriter
Fun facts
- The name stems from Jesus giving the nickname Petros (rock) to the apostle Simon.
- Over 43,000 boys in the United States have been officially registered at birth with the exact given name Pete since 1880.