NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Peta

A feminine name derived from Greek, meaning "rock".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Peta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Peta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 6 births.

This profile covers 57 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Peta. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Peta ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 6 girls were registered as Peta.
  • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Peta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5765

2017

Births in 2017

3

Latest year

Peak year

2000

6 births

Estimated living

57

2026

Meaning

What does Peta mean?

The name Peta is derived from the Greek word "petra," which means "rock" or "stone." This name has its roots in ancient Greece, where it was used as a name for both males and females.

In Greek mythology, Petra was the name of one of the Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. The Oceanids were sea nymphs who represented various bodies of water and were depicted as graceful young maidens.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Peta can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He mentions a woman named Peta who was a priestess of the goddess Aphrodite in the city of Corinth.

In the Middle Ages, the name Peta gained popularity among Christians, as it was associated with the rock upon which Christ built his church, as mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 16:18). St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, was also known as Petros, which means "rock" in Greek.

One of the most famous people named Peta in history was Peta Longu (1270-1352), an Italian philosopher and theologian who was a prominent figure in the Renaissance period. He wrote extensively on topics such as metaphysics, ethics, and the nature of the soul.

Another notable figure was Peta Vaz Caminha (1450-1500), a Portuguese explorer and writer who accompanied Pedro Álvares Cabral on his voyage to Brazil in 1500. His detailed account of the expedition, known as the "Letter of Peta Vaz Caminha," is considered one of the most important documents in the history of Brazil.

In the 16th century, Peta Aretino (1492-1556) was an Italian author, playwright, and satirist who was known for his biting wit and criticism of the powerful and wealthy. He is often regarded as one of the founders of modern literary criticism.

During the Renaissance, the name Peta also became associated with the arts. Peta Perugino (1446-1523) was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, who was renowned for his frescoes and altarpieces, and was the teacher of the famous artist Raphael.

In more recent times, Peta Sutcliffe (1918-2000) was a British actor and playwright who had a successful career in both film and television. He is best known for his roles in popular TV series such as "Fawlty Towers" and "Porridge."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Peta over time

The chart below shows babies named Peta registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Peta, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Peta
02356199620062017

Decades

Peta by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Peta was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #5126 19 5
2000s #3765 30 7
1990s #3266 8 2

Related

Names similar to Peta

FAQ

Peta: questions and answers

How popular is the name Peta in the UK right now?

In 2017, Peta was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Peta most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 6 babies registered as Peta in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Peta?

A feminine name derived from Greek, meaning "rock".

How many people are called Peta in the UK?

A total of 57 babies have been registered as Peta across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.