[OLD REGGIE]

Peter’s original name was Simon. Christ Himself gave him the name Cephas or Peter when they first met and later confirmed it. This name change was meant to show both Peter’s rank as leader of the apostles and the outstanding trait of his character — Peter (in Hebrew Kephas) the Rock.

His "always" name was Simon.

John 21:
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

What happened to his "Rockiness"?

[Cronos]

Jesus said to Simon Peter,

So, are you disputing that Jesus who we Christians (as opposed to unitarians) consider God, doesn't mean it when he renames someone?

[MarkBsnr]

What happened to his "Rockiness"?

You mean his "Pebbliness"? :)

We know that Jesus was a master orator and wordsmith in the tradition (!!!) of rabbis. I think that, in light of many of Christ's teachings and parables being on several levels, Peter was nicknamed small rock in comparison to Jesus being big rock. IOW, Peter is small to Jesus, but is to act in the role of leader when the big and authentic leader has departed (the keys, the keys).

I think that many times people miss all the levels of meaning that Jesus taught to us and the various combinations of copying and translations have taken away some of those meanings or lessened their understandability.