Girl name · Greek
Petra
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: rock, stonePetra is a girl's name that comes from Greek and means "rock, stone". It is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
- Meaning
- Rock, stone
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #1372 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Petra
As a girl's name, Petra comes from Greek and means "rock, stone". It is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
In German, say PAY-trah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Petra on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Petra on 5 lists.
“Rock, stone; Greek, a feminine form of Peter. Say PAY-trah”
From German girl names, german forms of classic names
“Rock, stone; feminine of Peter. Also an ancient city in Jordan”
From Nature names, earth, stone and mountain names
“Stone, rock; Greek. Feminine of Pedro”
From Spanish girl names, vintage Spanish girl names and virtue names
“Rock, stone; Greek. Rock-solid feminine form of Peter”
From Strong female names, girl names that mean strong
“From the Greek word for rock”
From Tyranitar nicknames, girl Tyranitar nicknames
How popular is Petra?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,372
- 161 babies, 100 per million girls
- Best rank
- #435 in 1894
- Most babies: 197 in 1927
- Babies since 1881
- At least 14,559
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 104 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 116 per million |
| 1900s | 139 per million |
| 1910s | 123 per million |
| 1920s | 150 per million |
| 1930s | 123 per million |
| 1940s | 73 per million |
| 1950s | 55 per million |
| 1960s | 69 per million |
| 1970s | 75 per million |
| 1980s | 51 per million |
| 1990s | 46 per million |
| 2000s | 57 per million |
| 2010s | 82 per million |
| 2020s | 95 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,463 | #1,398 | #1,518 | #1,330 | #1,278 | #1,430 | #1,537 | #1,473 | #1,490 | #1,372 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Petra
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- PietraStone (Greek, girl)
Names spelled like Petra
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- CoralReef stone of the sea (Greek, girl)
- CraigRock, crag (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- GemmaGem, precious stone (Latin, girl)
- PeadarRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- PedroRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- PeioStone (Greek, boy)
- PierceRock (Greek, boy)
- TorstenThor's stone (Old Norse, boy)
Middle names for Petra
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Greek
- AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
- SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- ZoeLife, living (Greek, girl)
- AnastasiaResurrection, rising again (Greek, girl)
- ChristinaFollower of Christ (Greek, girl)
- NicoleVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
Petra: common questions
What does the name Petra mean?
Petra comes from Greek and means "rock, stone".
Is Petra a boy or girl name?
Petra is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Petra come from?
Petra comes from Greek and means "rock, stone". Today it is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
How popular is the name Petra?
Petra ranked #1,372 in the US in 2025, with 161 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Petra?
Forms of Petra with the same meaning and origin include Pietra (Portuguese).
What middle names go with Petra?
Middle names that flow well with Petra include Aurora, Daphne, Fenella, Marigold and Ottilie. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.