Peter's real name was Simon. He was an uneducated fisherman and he was passionately impetuous before others. Jesus gave him a new name, "Peter" which meant "rock." His character was so impulsive that he didn't fit the image of being firm as a rock. Though there wasn't much time left, Jesus gave him this name because He believed "Simon" would be changed and become "Peter," a worker who would be "solid as a rock." It was this love of Jesus that was the motivating power behind Peter's faith and the beginning of the Early Church.