Peterson
Peterson: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpiːtəsən/ · /ˈpitɚsən/
Meaning and origin of Peterson
- A patrilineal surname transferred from the given name.
Etymology
English, Scottish, and German surname, from Peter + -son. Found parallel in many other languages, such as Norwegian and Danish Pedersen, Pettersen, Polish Piotrowicz, Slovene Petrič, Petrovčič, Petrovič, Petric, Petrovic, etc. Also Americanized from Swedish Petersson, Pettersson.
How popular is Peterson?
Since 1880, 819 boys in the U.S. have been named Peterson. Its highest rank for boys was #2323 in 1982. In 2025, 9 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Peterson
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Peterson
Sister and brother names that share Peterson's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Peterson FAQ
What does the name Peterson mean?
A patrilineal surname transferred from the given name. English, Scottish, and German surname, from Peter + -son. Found parallel in many other languages, such as Norwegian and Danish Pedersen, Pettersen, Polish Piotrowicz, Slovene Petrič, Petrovčič, Petrovič, Petric, Petrovic, etc. Also Americanized from Swedish Petersson, Pettersson.
What is the origin of the name Peterson?
Peterson is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Peterson?
Since 1880, 819 boys in the U.S. have been named Peterson. Its highest rank for boys was #2323 in 1982. In 2025, 9 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Peterson a boy or girl name?
Peterson is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 0 girls and 819 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.