Petar
(source: State Statistical Office, 2025)
9,000
9,000 people in North Macedonia carry this name
Meaning
The name Petar comes from the Greek Πέτρος, meaning “stone” or “rock.” The provided data also mentions the Latin form Petrus, and explains that the root petra means “rock,” “stone,” or “cliff” in both Greek and Latin. The Hebrew-Aramaic form Cephas is also mentioned with the same meaning, “rock.”
Petar has a strong Christian background because it was the name of one of the twelve apostles of Christ. In the New Testament, Peter is used as a translation of Cephas, the name that, according to the provided data, Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. Simon Peter is described as the most prominent of the apostles during Jesus’ ministry and is often considered the first pope.
Because of the apostle’s renown, the name became widespread throughout the Christian world in different forms. The provided data mentions the forms Petrus, Peter, and the Old French form Piers. Several related names are also derived from it in the region, including Peja, Peko, Pera, Pero, Petro, and Petra.