Petrus

The male first name Petrus represents the Latinized variant of the Greek name Petros (Πέτρος). Its direct translation is "the rock" or "the stone".

What does the name Petrus mean?

Petrus, a male first name, is the Latinized form of the Greek Petros (Πέτρος). Translated, it means "the rock" or "the stone". The origin of the name lies in the ancient Greek word pétrā ‎(πέτρᾱ) and pétros (πέτρος), both of which mean "the rock" and "the stone". Previously, the name was derived from the Aramaic Kephás, which encompasses meanings such as "the precious stone", "the boulder", as well as "solid", "strong", or "determined". Worldwide, the name became popular through the veneration of Saint Peter, son of John, who is regarded as the founder and first bishop of the Roman Christian community. He was later martyred and buried in a grave beneath St. Peter's Basilica. The Czech variant of the name is Petruš, while other forms such as Peteris, Peter, Petru, Petrak, Petras, Petö, Petroc, Petrou, Petr, Petrik, Pietje, and Petre exist. Petrus is also found as a surname.

Where does the name Petrus come from?

The name Petrus has its roots in Old Aramaic and Ancient Greek and means "the rock". In Old Aramaic, the terms kefas or kephas refer to "the precious stone" or "the boulder", but also to qualities such as "solid", "strong", or "determined". The ancient Greek words are pétrā ‎(πέτρᾱ) and pétros (πέτρος), which mean "the rock" or "the stone". The name is widespread in many languages, including Biblical, Danish, German, Latin, Dutch, Swedish, and Czech.

How do you pronounce Petrus?

The sound and pronunciation of Petrus are two syllables and classic. In German pronunciation, the name is usually pronounced as "Pe-trus" [ˈpeːtʁʊs]. It begins with a clear, elongated "e" that radiates openness. The second syllable sounds darker and more closed, creating a harmonious contrast. The ending "-us" gives the name a solemn, ancient resonance. Thus, Petrus appears dignified, steadfast, and carries a deeply rooted biblical-historical depth.

When is the name day of Petrus?

The name day for Petrus falls on June 29.

Popularity

Petrus is a widely used first name in Germany and currently ranks 4,024th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2016, where it reached 2,275th. In the last ten years, the name Petrus has been given about 50 times, placing it 3,431st in the ten-year statistics. For the period from 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,802nd.

Similar first names

Famous people

• Justin Petrus Couetzee (South African cricketer)
• Petrus (Apostle of Jesus)
• Petrus Abresch (Dutch theologian)
• Petrus Amin (German footballer)
• Petrus Augustus de Genestet (writer from the Netherlands)
• Petrus Aureolus (Japanese philosopher)
• Petrus Calaminus (German theologian)
• Petrus Canisius (Dutch theologian and writer)
• Petrus Christus (Flemish painter)
• Petrus Cimdars (theologian from Germany)
• Petrus Curtenius (Dutch theologian)
• Petrus Dathenus (Dutch theologian)
• Petrus de Cruce (composer from France)
• Petrus de Ibernia (philosopher from Ireland)
• Petrus Edeling (theologian from America)
• Petrus Frans van Kerckhoven (poet from Belgium)
• Petrus Haraseb (footballer from Namibia)
• Petrus Jacobus Kipp (Dutch chemist)
• Petrus Johannes Blok (historian from the Netherlands)
• Petrus Kirstenius (German physician)