petras

Petras is a masculine given name used primarily in Lithuania, where it is the standard Lithuanian form of Peter. It functions as a formal given name in personal and official contexts and is widely used in everyday life.

Origin and meaning: The English name Peter derives from the Greek Petros, meaning “rock” or “stone.” The Lithuanian Petras shares this origin and is cognate with Peter in English, Pedro in Spanish and Portuguese, Pierre in French, and Pietro in Italian. The form Petras reflects regular Lithuanian phonology and orthography.

Usage and distribution: Petras has a long-standing presence in Lithuanian history and remains common in contemporary Lithuania. It is also found among Lithuanian communities abroad, including those in North America, Western Europe, and Australia, often carried by immigrants and their descendants. In written Lithuanian, the name is declined like other masculine proper nouns, changing form across cases in sentences.

Notes: As with other culturally specific names, Petras can carry cultural and religious associations, particularly in contexts influenced by Christian tradition where Saint Peter is a well-known figure. The name’s equivalents across languages highlight its shared roots in a broader European naming tradition.

See also: Peter (name).