Peterson
Peterson is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Son of Peter (meaning 'rock' or 'stone').
Origin and history
Peterson is an English surname transferred to a masculine given name, traditionally meaning son of Peter. Rooted in the Greek name Petros, it carries the ultimate meaning of rock or stone. It remains an uncommon first name in the United States, given to only a small number of boys each year.
Popularity in the United States
819 babies in the United States have been named Peterson since 1880. It ranks #3857 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1874.
States where it is most popular
- FL (89.3 %)
- NY (8.2 %)
- CA (2.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 37 |
| 1960-1970 | 50 |
| 1970-1980 | 69 |
| 1980-1990 | 178 |
| 1990-2000 | 175 |
| 2000-2010 | 143 |
| 2010-2019 | 114 |
| 2020-2029 | 53 |
Nicknames
Pete
Fun facts
- The surname originally indicated patrilineal descent, meaning son of Peter.
- Peterson follows the long-standing English tradition of using family surnames as modern given names.