Petar

Petar is a masculine given name used across several South Slavic languages, including Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Macedonian, and Bulgarian. It is the South Slavic form of Peter, ultimately derived from the Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone. The name has long-standing Christian associations, particularly through Saint Peter, one of Jesus’s apostles, which contributed to its widespread use in Orthodox and Catholic communities in the region.

Diminutives and related forms vary by language. Common nicknames include Pera and Pero in several South Slavic languages, while Petko is a Bulgarian variant. The name has produced surnames such as Petrović, meaning “son of Petar,” and related forms like Petrov or Petrovich in other Slavic languages, reflecting patronymic origins.

Notable people with the name include Petar II Petrović-Njegoš (1784–1830), Montenegrin prince-bishop, poet, and philosopher; Petar I Karađorđević (1844–1921), king of Serbia and later of Yugoslavia; and Petar II Karađorđević (1923–1970), the last king of Yugoslavia. Beyond royalty, the name remains common in contemporary times among Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Montenegrins, and Macedonians, as well as in diaspora communities, where it continues to carry cultural and historical significance.