Pete Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Pete is derived from the Greek name Petros, which means 'rock' or 'stone'. It has evolved through various languages including Latin and French before becoming popular in English. The name has biblical significance as Peter was an apostle of Jesus. Modern usage reflects a friendly and informal image, and notable individuals with this name include musicians and athletes.
The name Pete is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Pete has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Pete' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 205th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 226th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 295th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 462nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 741st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1545th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2425th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4839th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5291st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8676th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10350th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Pete' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Pete"
Pronunciation
/piːt/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
Pete is a diminutive form of the name Peter, which comes from the Greek word 'petros' meaning 'rock' or 'stone'.
Meaning
rock, stone
Language Evolution
Petros (Greek), Petrus (Latin), Pierre (French), Pieter (Dutch), Petar (Croatian), Pete (English)
Biblical Background
The name Peter is significant in Christianity as it was given by Jesus to Simon, one of his apostles, symbolizing the foundation of the Church.
Historical Usage
The name Pete gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the 20th century as a friendly, informal version of Peter.
Variants & Derivatives
Peter, Petey, Pietro, Piet, Paddy
Modern Popularity & Image
Pete is perceived as a casual and approachable name, often associated with friendliness and relatability.
Famous People
Pete Townshend, Pete Davidson, Pete Rose, Pete Sampras
Explore More Pete Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Pete"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Pete"
"Pete" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 205th of 7545 | 10,272 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 226th of 6773 | 10,202 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 295th of 7552 | 11,821 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 462nd of 10718 | 4,990 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 741st of 16616 | 2,728 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1545th of 24088 | 1,442 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2425th of 23106 | 662 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4839th of 9107 | 57 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5291st of 9204 | 46 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8676th of 12526 | 25 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 10350th of 19264 | 42 |
Regional Popularity of "Pete" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
15.82% 224th/1416 |
15.37% 212th/1379 |
9.04% 214th/2366 |
9.37% 107th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
16.95% 262nd/1546 |
15.68% 244th/1556 |
10.75% 253rd/2353 |
8.08% 125th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.01% 312th/2227 |
13.58% 330th/2430 |
11.01% 314th/2853 |
7.78% 216th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
17.94% 527th/2937 |
19.35% 674th/3483 |
13.53% 476th/3518 |
8.31% 336th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
27.63% 1018th/3685 |
31.04% 1389th/4475 |
14.07% 731st/5194 |
9.47% 598th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
51.42% 2356th/4582 |
71.90% 3713th/5164 |
19.05% 1393rd/7313 |
15.57% 1162nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.99% 3187th/3984 |
- |
30.84% 2104th/6822 |
35.79% 2246th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Pete" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Pete"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Pete" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.