Petra

The first name Petra is a feminine variation of the name Peter, a spelling variant of Petrus, which originally goes back to Petros (Πέτρος). Literally translated into English, the name means 'the stone', 'the boulder' or 'the rock', but it is more freely interpreted as 'the stronghold', 'the rock in the storm', and 'the grown rock'.

What does the name Petra mean?

The first name Petra is a feminine variation of the name Peter, a spelling variant of Petrus, which originally goes back to Petros (Πέτρος). Literally translated into English, the name means 'the stone', 'the boulder' or 'the rock', but it is more freely interpreted as 'the stronghold', 'the rock in the storm', and 'the grown rock'. Its roots lie in the Ancient Greek word pétrā ‎(πέτρᾱ) or pétros (πέτρος) for 'the rock' and 'the stone', but the name was originally derived from the Aramaic Kephás. The expression kefas or kephas stands for 'the precious stone', 'the rock chunk', but also for 'solid', 'strong', or 'determined'. The name has spread worldwide due to the veneration of Saint Apostle Peter, the son of John. Petrus is also considered an epithet of the Apostle Simon (Simon Peter). Petra is the name of an oriental rock city. Other variants include Petrana, Petranka, Peterke, Petrula, Petrusa, Petruska, Petruta, Petruschka, Petrissa, Petrisse, Petrina, Petrine, Petrica, and Petrena.

Where does the name Petra come from?

Etymology Petra is a feminine first name of Old Aramaic and Ancient Greek origin with the meaning 'the stronghold'. Old Aramaic Ancient Greek

How do you pronounce Petra?

Sound & pronunciation of Petra: The name Petra is two syllables and clearly structured. In German pronunciation, it is usually spoken as 'Pe-tra' [ˈpeːtʁa], with the first syllable having a long 'e' being stressed. The consonant combination in the center gives it a solid sound form. Petra appears factual and timeless - stable, friendly, and present.

When is the name day of Petra?

The name day of Petra is May 31 and June 29.

Popularity

As a feminine first name, Petra has experienced an unusually strong rise in popularity in Germany. After initial visible placements still in the rarer range, Petra gained significant relative popularity starting in the late 1930s and especially in the 1940s, moving up significantly within a few cohorts. Petra's most defining period in Germany was from the 1950s to the 1960s.

Nicknames & pet names

Patty / Pe / Pea / Pedda / Pedder / Peddl / Pede / Pedel / Pedi / Pedo / Pedri / Peep / Peetz / Peetzl / Pepi / Pet / Peta / Pete / Petel / Peterle / Peti / Petie / Petipez / Petrapack / Petrapak / Petrapan / Petrarca / Petrella / Petri / Petrinki / Petrischa / Petrochelli / Petronella / Petronili / Petrulla / Petrus / Petruschka / Pets / Petulka / Petzi / Petzl / Pez / Pezi / Pezimoon / Piet / Pietronella / Pietsch / Pitti / Ptr / Ra / Tetra / Tretra

Similar first names

Famous people

• Petra Auer (Frey) (Bavarian actress, married to Winfried Frey)
• Petra Barthel (German actress)
• Petra Benuskova (Slovak handball player)
• Petra Bertholdova (Czech football player)
• Petra Blume (writer from Germany)
• Petra Cabot (American designer)
• Petra der Schwan (mourning swan in Aasee in Münster)
• Petra Dieris-Wierichs (badminton player from Germany)
• Petra Ehlert (actress from Germany)
• Petra Frey (Austrian singer)
• Petra Gabriel (writer from Germany)
• Petra Gentz-Werner (German biochemist)
• Petra Gerster (German journalist and television presenter)
• Petra Gute (television presenter from Germany)
• Petra Haden (musician from America)
• Petra Hinze (German actress)
• Petra Hoffmann (German soprano)
• Petra Jurcova (Czech ice hockey player)
• Petra Kalkutschke (German actress)
• Petra Kelly (co-founder of the party 'The Greens')