Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Palmer
UnisexEnglish· “pilgrim”
- Meaning
- pilgrim
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- PAH-mur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #232
- US babies 2025
- 1,330
- Best rank
- #232 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Palmer
Palmer is an English name that means “pilgrim”.
Palmer comes from an English surname for a pilgrim who had traveled to the Holy Land. Such pilgrims often carried a palm frond or wore a palm badge as a sign of their journey, and the word palmer came to mean a pilgrim in medieval English. The golfer Arnold Palmer gave the surname a sporty, all-American image. As a given name Palmer is used for both boys and girls in the United States, with a crisp, preppy sound. It needs no nickname and pairs easily with classic middle names. The meaning offers a quiet sense of travel and devotion.
Popularity over time
Palmer first appears in US Social Security records in 1908. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 8 different years, starting in 2018. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #232, and its highest count, 1,330 babies. Use has grown 651% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #4,306 in 1920, #3,014 in 1950, #12,800 in 2000, #9,116 in 2010, and #232 in 2025. Of the 9,389 US girls named Palmer since records began, 71% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 2,296 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Ellis, Lennon, Shiloh, Dallas, and Milan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Palmer ranked highest in North Dakota, Iowa, and Mississippi.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #78 | 12 |
| Iowa | #101 | 31 |
| Mississippi | #102 | 22 |
| Nebraska | #102 | 21 |
| South Dakota | #113 | 10 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Palmer is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 75% of US babies named Palmer were girls and 25% were boys.
Palmer is usually pronounced PAH-mur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with P and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Palmer
A few middle names that flow with Palmer: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Palmer
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Lists that include Palmer
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Palmer mean?
Palmer is an English name that means “pilgrim”.
What is the origin of the name Palmer?
Palmer has English roots. Palmer comes from an English surname for a pilgrim who had traveled to the Holy Land.
Is Palmer a popular name?
Yes. Palmer ranked #232 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Palmer a boy or girl name?
Palmer is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 75% of US babies named Palmer were girls and 25% were boys.
How do you pronounce Palmer?
Palmer is usually pronounced PAH-mur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings