Peter is of Greek origin and means 'rock' or 'stone'. It was popularized by early Christianity, as Saint Peter was one of Jesus Christ's apostles and the first pope. The name has been widely used throughout history, especially in Europe, and has a rich cultural heritage. Some notable figures named Peter include Peter the Great, the Russian emperor who modernized his country; Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up from J.M. Barrie's famous story; and Peter, Paul, and Mary, an American folk music trio popular in the 1960s. The name has also been used in various works of literature and art, such as 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' by Beatrix Potter and 'Peter and the Wolf' by Sergei Prokofiev.
"Peter was quite popular as a baby name from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, with a peak of 47 births in 1980. After that, its popularity began to decline significantly."