Per
/P-EH-R/
Rock — the most compressed Scandinavian form of Peter, from Greek Petros, stripped of every suffix. Though used across Norway and Denmark, the single syllable Per is iconically Swedish, borne by a Nobel-honoured Swedish writer. A lean, sturdy Nordic Christian name reducing the apostle's name of stone to its barest essence.
Get Per's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Per:
How well does Per fit your family?
This page tells you what Per means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
Unlock Per's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Per is a Christian boy name of Swedish origin, meaning “Rock — the most compressed Scandinavian form of Peter, from Greek Petros, stripped of every suffix. Though used across Norway and Denmark, the single syllable Per is iconically Swedish, borne by a Nobel-honoured Swedish writer. A lean, sturdy Nordic Christian name reducing the apostle's name of stone to its barest essence.”.
Per is a boy's name of Swedish origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Rock — the most compressed Scandinavian form of Peter, from Greek Petros, stripped of every suffix. Though used across Norway and Denmark, the single syllable Per is iconically Swedish, borne by a Nobel-honoured Swedish writer. A lean, sturdy Nordic Christian name reducing the apostle's name of stone to its barest essence." and belongs to the Nature cluster — names drawn from the natural world — earth, water, sky.
Common among Swedish, Scandinavian families, Per carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Per
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Per lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Per's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Per's saint & feast day →What does Per's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Per resonates in either tradition.
Per's destiny number is 3 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Per's full reading →
Does Per go with your family's names?
Per breaks into 3 sounds: /P-EH-R/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Per sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Per beside your family's names →
Names similar to Per
If Per resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in Swedish families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Nature cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Per
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Per — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Per
What does the name Per mean?
Per means "Rock — the most compressed Scandinavian form of Peter, from Greek Petros, stripped of every suffix. Though used across Norway and Denmark, the single syllable Per is iconically Swedish, borne by a Nobel-honoured Swedish writer. A lean, sturdy Nordic Christian name reducing the apostle's name of stone to its barest essence.." It is a boy name of Swedish origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Per a boy or girl name?
Per is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Per?
Per is of Swedish origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Swedish, Scandinavian families.
Is Per a Christian name?
Yes. Per is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Swedish origin.
What does Per mean in Swedish?
Per originates from Swedish, where it means "Rock — the most compressed Scandinavian form of Peter, from Greek Petros, stripped of every suffix. Though used across Norway and Denmark, the single syllable Per is iconically Swedish, borne by a Nobel-honoured Swedish writer. A lean, sturdy Nordic Christian name reducing the apostle's name of stone to its barest essence.."
What is the numerology of Per?
Per has a Pythagorean destiny number of 3 — creativity and joyful expression.
See how Per scores for your family
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