Walker
Walker is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Fuller of cloth or one who walks.
Origin and history
Walker is an English surname-turned-first-name derived from an occupational term for a cloth fuller or someone who walked on damp wool to thicken it. It has a long history in the United States, originally associated with classic Southern and Western naming traditions. In recent years, the name has seen a major surge in popularity, reaching the top 100 boys' names in the 2020s.
Popularity in the United States
47,914 babies in the United States have been named Walker since 1880. It ranks #522 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #101.
States where it is most popular
- TX (10 %)
- GA (6.6 %)
- CA (6.3 %)
- NC (5.5 %)
- TN (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 266 |
| 1890-1900 | 294 |
| 1900-1910 | 242 |
| 1910-1920 | 823 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,080 |
| 1930-1940 | 710 |
| 1940-1950 | 720 |
| 1950-1960 | 580 |
| 1960-1970 | 394 |
| 1970-1980 | 547 |
| 1980-1990 | 836 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,712 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,419 |
| 2010-2019 | 10,057 |
| 2020-2029 | 21,234 |
Famous people named Walker
- Walker Zimmerman: Athlete, Soccer player
- Walker Buehler: Athlete, Baseball player
- Walker Evans: Photographer, Artist
Fun facts
- The name originally described a fuller, someone whose job was to tread upon damp raw wool to clean and thicken it.
- While used in the U.S. for well over a century, Walker experienced a massive resurgence in the 2020s, rising into the top 100 names for boys.