This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Per – Meaning: form of Peter, meaning 'rock' – Origin: Scandinavian – Gender: primarily used for boys
Per is the Scandinavian form of Peter, carrying the meaning 'rock.' It's a short, single-syllable name with deep roots in Scandinavian naming tradition. If you like the substance of Peter but want something more compact, Per is that name pared down to its essentials.
Meaning & Origin of Per
Meaning: Form of peter, meaning 'rock'.
Origin: Scandinavian.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
Popularity of Per
In U.S. Social Security data, Per peaked in 1966 at rank #2190, with 14 babies given the name that year. By 2020 it had fallen to rank #13551, with just 5 babies recorded.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1923–2020.
Make Per Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Per, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Per mean?
Form of peter, meaning ‘rock’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Per)
Is Per a popular name right now?
Per peaked at #2190 in 1966 and is ranked #13551 as of 2020. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1923–2020.)
📊 How popular is Per? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Per
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →




