A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Petra since 1881
Babies named Petra per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Petra's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 136 |
| 1890s | 257 |
| 1900s | 407 |
| 1910s | 1,007 |
| 1920s | 1,791 |
| 1930s | 1,309 |
| 1940s | 1,060 |
| 1950s | 1,059 |
| 1960s | 1,260 |
| 1970s | 1,165 |
| 1980s | 883 |
| 1990s | 823 |
| 2000s | 1,046 |
| 2010s | 1,433 |
| 2020s | 923 |
Meaning & origin
Petra is a name with solid, grounded origins, literally meaning "rock." Its usage in the United States dates back to at least 1881, though it has never broken into the top tier of popularity. It reached its peak rank in 1894, and after a long period of decline, it has been rising again since 1990. In the most recent data (2025), Petra stands at rank 1367, with about 1 in 9983 girls receiving the name. The name has seen a revival in the 1890s decade and is most popular in states like Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. Petra strikes a balance between classical and uncommon, offering a strong, feminine alternative to more popular names.
Petra is the feminine form of Peter, derived from the Greek word "petros" meaning "stone" or "rock." It has been used as a given name in various European languages since the Middle Ages, though it remained relatively uncommon in the English-speaking world until the 20th century. The name shares its root with the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, carved into sandstone cliffs.
Where Petra is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Petra” around the world
Where Petra lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pet, Peta
Sibling names for Petra
Names that share Petra's style, for a brother or sister.
