Parker
Parker is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Keeper of the park or gamekeeper.
Origin and history
Parker originated as an Old English occupational surname referring to a park keeper or gamekeeper. In recent decades, it has transitioned into a highly popular unisex given name in the United States, particularly for boys. Its occupational roots give it a classic yet modern surname-as-first-name appeal.
Popularity in the United States
130,941 babies in the United States have been named Parker since 1880. It ranks #254 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #93.
States where it is most popular
- TX (7.7 %)
- CA (7.6 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
- FL (4.3 %)
- PA (3.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 112 |
| 1890-1900 | 134 |
| 1900-1910 | 143 |
| 1910-1920 | 546 |
| 1920-1930 | 728 |
| 1930-1940 | 559 |
| 1940-1950 | 578 |
| 1950-1960 | 568 |
| 1960-1970 | 524 |
| 1970-1980 | 632 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,800 |
| 1990-2000 | 16,234 |
| 2000-2010 | 35,729 |
| 2010-2019 | 49,234 |
| 2020-2029 | 22,420 |
Famous people named Parker
- Parker Stevenson: Actor
- Parker Young: Actor
Fun facts
- The name originally designated an official who was responsible for maintaining medieval hunting parks.
- Parker gained widespread popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as part of the trend of using English surnames as given names.