Pekkanen is a Finnish surname derived from the given name Pekka, the Finnish form of Peter. As a patronymic surname, it literally means "son of Pekka" or collectively "of the Pekka family." This type of formation—where the possessive suffix -nen is added to a first name—is common in Finnish onomastics, often yielding surnames that originally indicated family affiliation. Etymology The root name Peter ultimately derives from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), meaning "stone." In the New Testament, Jesus gave the apostle Simon the name Cephas (Aramaic for "stone"), which was translated into Greek as Petros. Peter went on to become the foremost apostle. The use of Peter spread widely across Christian cultures, giving rise to many vernacular forms, including the Finnish Pekka. The suffix -nen attached to Pekka forms Pekkanen, which is analogous to other Finnish surnames such as Pakkanen. Notable Bearers Two notable individuals bear the surname Pekkanen: