Petra — Meaning, Origin & Everything to Know

Petra: a Greek name meaning 'rock, stone'.

Petra pairs an easy sound with real substance: in Greek it means 'rock, stone'. As a daughter's name, Petra suggests resilience, power and steadfastness and travels comfortably across languages. Because it rests on Greek rather than passing fashion, Petra carries a sense of history that many parents look for.

Quick facts about the name Petra
NamePetra
MeaningThe name Petra translates as 'rock, stone', a meaning inherited from Greek
OriginGreek
LanguageGreek
GenderGirl
Numerology number6
PronunciationPET-ra
Popularity tierTier 3

What Does the Name Petra Mean?

The name Petra translates as 'rock, stone', a meaning inherited from Greek.

Petra grew up inside the Greek tradition, where a name was meant to carry blessing and identity, not just sound. Across generations the meaning 'rock, stone' held firm while Petra passed through families, migration and changing fashion.

Modern parents tend to hear Petra as fresh rather than old-fashioned, with 'rock, stone' giving it a positive, aspirational edge. The result is a name in Petra that feels both usable and meaningful — its appeal in the 2020s in a nutshell.

Petra carries connotations of resilience, power and steadfastness; the Greek background gives that symbolism somewhere to stand.

Origin & Etymology of Petra

Greek · Greek

The roots of Petra lie in Greek, carrying the sense 'rock, stone'. When families carried the Greek tradition abroad, Petra went too, picking up minor spelling shifts without losing 'rock, stone'.

Within Greek culture, Petra connects to enduring values through its idea of resilience, power and steadfastness.

How Greek names are chosen

Greek naming is close to an algorithm, which is why the same names recur down a family for centuries: the eldest son takes his paternal grandfather's name and the eldest daughter her paternal grandmother's, with later children drawing on the mother's side. The name is usually settled within the first week or ten days, the christening following at around forty days, and by custom the godfather has the final word. Because so many names are saints' names, most Greeks keep a name day — the saint's feast — as well as a birthday, and it is often the more sociable of the two. Regional patron saints show up plainly in the distribution: Spyridon clusters on Corfu, Gerasimos on Kefalonia, Dionysios on Zakynthos.

How to Pronounce Petra

PET-raPetra is usually said in 2 parts — PET · ra. From Greek roots: vowels are open and clearly sounded.

Popularity of the Name Petra

Petra has been climbing in recent years, with its momentum centred on the 2020s.

Personality Traits Associated with Petra

Ask around and Petra is usually described as strong and grounded. Both the 'rock, stone' meaning and the rhythm of Petra feed that picture. In the traditions that link names to temperament, Petra lands on the side of resilience, power and steadfastness. None of this overrides the individual, of course — but if a name's signal matters to you, Petra reads warm rather than harsh, which is part of why it resonates.

Petra Numerology

The name Petra carries the numerology number 6.

Run Petra through Pythagorean numerology and it settles on 6 — the Nurturer — love and responsibility. Tradition holds that a 6 shapes someone's natural motivations and way of relating to others. Set beside the meaning 'rock, stone', the 6 adds another layer for parents who weigh numerology when naming.

See the full meaning of number 6 on NumberAngel →

Petra & Zodiac Connection

Petra sits naturally alongside determined Capricorn and bold Aries, signs whose temperament matches its mood.

Curious what your baby's zodiac sign reveals? Explore GetMyHoro →

Names Similar to Petra

Sibling Names That Go With Petra

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Middle Names for Petra

Petra Grace · Petra Sky · Petra Elise · Petra Jane · Petra Mae · Petra Faith

Find more with the Middle Name Generator →

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Frequently Asked Questions

+What does the name Petra mean?

Petra means 'rock, stone'. It comes from Greek and is linked with resilience, power and steadfastness, which makes it a meaningful choice for a daughter.

+What is the origin of Petra?

Petra is Greek in origin, from Greek.

+What is the numerology number for Petra?

In Pythagorean numerology Petra reduces to 6 — the Nurturer — love and responsibility.

+Is Petra a popular name?

Petra has been rising in popularity, with its strongest momentum in the 2020s.

+Is Petra suitable for any gender?

Petra is most often used as a girl's name, though naming is personal and the meaning 'rock, stone' suits any child.

+What names pair well with Petra for a sibling?

Names such as Vera, Cornelia, Marcella sit well beside Petra, sharing a complementary style.