Meaning & History
Peru is a Basque form of Peter. The name ultimately derives from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), meaning “stone,” which itself translates the Aramaic name Cephas. In the New Testament, the apostle Simon was given this name by Jesus, as noted in Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42. Simon Peter was a leading figure among the apostles and is traditionally considered the first pope.
Etymology and History
The Basque form Peru arose as a vernacular adaptation of the widespread Christian name Peter, which became popular across Europe due to the apostle’s renown. In the Basque Country, local namings often employed such localized variants, with Peru being a distinctly Basque rendering. Other related names in the Basque tradition include the diminutive Peio and the variant Petri. Across different cultures, cognates of Peter include Bautros in Coptic, Bedros in Armenian, and Petros in Greek.
- Meaning: “stone” (from Latin petra, Greek petros)
- Origin: Greek, via Aramaic
- Type: Given name
- Usage region: Basque-speaking areas (France, Spain)