Piero

Piero is an Italian form of Peter, whose Greek root petros means rock or stone. It belongs to the same family as Pietro, French Pierre, and English Peter. The shorter Italian form has an established history of its own, rather than being only a casual nickname used in place of Pietro.

The Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca is a particularly memorable bearer, giving the name a strong artistic association. His frescoes and paintings make Piero familiar far beyond Italian-speaking families. Its older religious connection comes through the Peter family and the apostle's name, while its Italian form supplies a distinct cultural identity. A family may choose Piero to continue a Peter-family name across languages or because of the art and history associated with this particular spelling.