Did Jesus invent the name Peter (Kephas or Cephas in Aramaic)?

No, he didn't invent the name. Cephas means “rock” in Aramaic. There was a long tradition throughout the Hebrew Bible of referring to God and his loyal followers as a being a “rock,” as in being something one can rely upon, trust, have great faith in, etc. read more

As others have noted, Jesus did not invent the name Cephas. He did apply it to Peter, and he did intend the pun others have noted, but I think there was a bit more irony there than we might otherwise realize. Peter was given the name Cephas because of his declaration of Christ as Son of God. read more

The first of two times that Jesus refers to Simon by the name of Peter. Matthew 16.16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Understand that Simon saying that Jesus is the Christ is not the full revelation. read more

Peter means "stone" in Greek, while Cephas is "stone" in Aramaic. That verse is confusing in the NIV; the KJV is clearer: John 1: 42 (KJV) 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. read more