Pete
A diminutive of the male given name Peter.
Every Pete since 1880 — 43,700 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Pete
Pete is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,382 in 2025 with 58 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 43,700 American babies have been named Pete. Its peak came in 1959, when 767 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Pete stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Pete year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 58 | #2,382 |
| 2024 | — | — | 40 | #3,084 |
| 2023 | — | — | 54 | #2,503 |
| 2022 | — | — | 55 | #2,508 |
| 2021 | — | — | 58 | #2,367 |
| 2020 | — | — | 51 | #2,536 |
| 2019 | — | — | 44 | #2,840 |
| 2018 | — | — | 60 | #2,277 |
| 2017 | — | — | 56 | #2,334 |
| 2016 | — | — | 49 | #2,581 |
| 2015 | — | — | 62 | #2,202 |
| 2014 | — | — | 70 | #2,038 |
| 2013 | — | — | 63 | #2,133 |
| 2012 | — | — | 64 | #2,123 |
| 2011 | — | — | 66 | #2,048 |
| 2010 | — | — | 65 | #2,088 |
| 2009 | — | — | 82 | #1,819 |
| 2008 | — | — | 88 | #1,733 |
| 2007 | — | — | 89 | #1,709 |
| 2006 | — | — | 88 | #1,636 |
| 2005 | — | — | 80 | #1,689 |
| 2004 | — | — | 86 | #1,551 |
| 2003 | — | — | 94 | #1,417 |
| 2002 | — | — | 97 | #1,370 |
| 2001 | — | — | 90 | #1,397 |
| 2000 | — | — | 99 | #1,308 |
| 1995 | — | — | 118 | #1,025 |
| 1990 | — | — | 169 | #782 |
| 1985 | — | — | 182 | #650 |
| 1980 | — | — | 220 | #579 |
| 1975 | — | — | 258 | #498 |
| 1970 | — | — | 374 | #424 |
| 1965 | — | — | 449 | #362 |
| 1960 | — | — | 756 | #287 |
| 1955 | 5 | #6,492 | 551 | #310 |
| 1950 | — | — | 560 | #280 |
| 1945 | — | — | 578 | #234 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,441 | 513 | #237 |
| 1935 | — | — | 588 | #204 |
| 1930 | — | — | 578 | #223 |
| 1925 | 5 | #5,607 | 646 | #214 |
| 1920 | — | — | 636 | #205 |
| 1915 | — | — | 531 | #203 |
| 1910 | — | — | 156 | #181 |
| 1905 | — | — | 86 | #203 |
| 1900 | — | — | 116 | #184 |
| 1895 | — | — | 66 | #212 |
| 1890 | — | — | 60 | #214 |
| 1885 | — | — | 56 | #216 |
| 1880 | — | — | 50 | #235 |
Famous people named Pete
- Pete Conrad Astronaut · 1930–1999
- Pete Best Musician · b. 1941
- Pete Seeger Musician · 1919–2014
- Pete Townshend Musician · b. 1945
- Pete Postlethwaite Actor · 1946–2011
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pete mean?
A diminutive of the male given name Peter.
How popular is the name Pete in 2025?
Pete ranked #2,382 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 58 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Pete?
43,700 babies have been named Pete in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Pete most popular?
Pete peaked in 1959, when 767 newborns received the name.
Is Pete a boy or girl name?
Pete is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Pete rising or falling?
Pete is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Pete?
Well-known people named Pete include Pete Conrad (astronaut), Pete Best (musician), Pete Seeger (musician).