Pekka is a Finnish male given name, the Finnish form of Peter. Derived ultimately from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros) meaning "stone", the name Peter gained prominence through Saint Peter, the apostle whom Jesus called "the Rock" (Matthew 16:18). As Christianity spread, the name was adopted across Europe in various vernacular forms, including the Finnish variant Pekka.Pekka became particularly popular in Finland during the middle of the 20th century; as of 2013, there were over 100,000 men registered with this name in the country. The nameday for Pekka is traditionally celebrated on June 29 in the Finnish tradition, aligning with the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and on June 25 in the Orthodox calendar. The name originated as a variation of the Finnish form of Peter, Pietari.Notable bearers of the name include Pekka Haavisto (born 1958), a Finnish politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs; Pekka Himanen (born 1973), a Finnish philosopher known for his work on the information age; Pekka Koskela (born 1982), a Finnish speed skater and Olympic medalist; and Pekka-Eric Auvinen (1989–2007), the perpetrator of the Jokela school shooting. The name is also common in surnames, such as the patronymic Pekkanen (detail), meaning "son of Pekka."A related Finnish variant is Peetu, and the feminine form of Peter adopted in Scandinavian cultures is Petra. Broader international cognates include Pjetër (Albanian), Botros/Boutros/Butrus (Coptic), Bedros (Armenian), and Petros (Greek), reflecting the widespread reach of the original biblical name.Meaning: "stone" (derived from Greek Petros)Origin: Finnish form of PeterType: Male given nameUsage regions: FinlandNameday: June 29 (Finnish), June 25 (Orthodox)