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Peterson

Quick answerPeterson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter," derived from the given name Peter, which comes from the Greek "petros" (πέτρος) meaning "stone" or "rock." The name is primarily used in English-speaking cultures and Scandinavian countries, with particular prominence among Protestant populations; it gained…

Greek · Boy · 3 syllables

P
Rare

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#8,745
TrendStable
Peak year1989
Syllables3
OriginGreek
LanguageEnglish
CultureNorthern European
Letters8
Numerology4 Chaldean 3
Global rank#5,334

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Peterson

Peterson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter," derived from the given name Peter, which comes from the Greek "petros" (πέτρος) meaning "stone" or "rock." The name is primarily used in English-speaking cultures and Scandinavian countries, with particular prominence among Protestant populations; it gained widespread use during the medieval period and became common as a surname in Northern Europe and later in North America.

This meaning was compiled with AI assistance and is awaiting community review. Know this name well? Help verify or improve it.

Etymology

Peterson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter," derived from the given name Peter, which comes from the Greek "petros" (πέτρος) meaning "stone" or "rock." The name is primarily used in English-speaking cultures and Scandinavian countries, with particular prominence among Protestant populations; it gained widespread use during the medieval period and became common as a surname in Northern Europe and later in North America.

Peterson currently ranks #8,745 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1989.

Themesnature

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