Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Parker
UnisexEnglish, French· “park keeper”
- Meaning
- park keeper
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- PAHR-kur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #102
- US babies 2025
- 3,477
- Best rank
- #72 (2015)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Parker
Parker is an English and French name that means “park keeper”.
Parker comes from an English occupational surname for a person who looked after a park, meaning an enclosed hunting ground on a medieval estate. The word park came into English through Old French. As a surname it has many well-known bearers, including the writer Dorothy Parker and the jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. As a first name, Parker grew in the late twentieth century for boys and later became a popular unisex choice in the United States. Peter Parker, the everyday identity of Spider-Man, keeps the surname in popular culture. It sounds friendly, upbeat and modern.
Popularity over time
Parker has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 125 different years. Its best national rank was #72 in 2015, and the most babies received it in 2014, when 5,720 were named Parker. In 2025, 3,477 babies were named Parker, and it ranked #102 nationally. That is 36% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #849 in 1920, #883 in 1950, #759 in 1980, #127 in 2000, #85 in 2010, and #102 in 2025. Of the 130,941 US boys named Parker since records began, 38% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 35,729 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Sawyer and Avery.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Parker ranked highest in Vermont, West Virginia, and Maine.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | #20 | 15 |
| West Virginia | #28 | 41 |
| Maine | #41 | 26 |
| Alabama | #57 | 75 |
| Louisiana | #57 | 68 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Parker is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Parker were girls and 75% were boys.
Parker is usually pronounced PAHR-kur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with P and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Parker
A few middle names that flow with Parker: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Parker
Similar names
Spencer Boy
SPEN-sur
“steward, dispenser of provisions” · English
#360
Chandler Unisex
CHAND-lur
“candle maker” · English
#753
Porter Boy
POR-tur
“gatekeeper, or carrier of loads” · English
#560
Fletcher Boy
FLECH-er
“arrow maker” · English
#547
Hunter Boy
HUHN-tur
“hunter” · English
#130
Tyler Boy
TY-lur
“tile maker” · English
#220
Sawyer Unisex
SAW-yur
“one who saws wood” · English
#122
Ryder Boy
RY-dur
“horseman, rider” · English
#133
River Unisex
RIH-vur
“river” · English
#111
Piper Girl
PY-pur
“pipe player” · English
#155
Tucker Boy
TUH-kur
“cloth fuller” · English
#181
Jasper Boy
JAS-pur
“treasurer; also a gemstone” · Persian
#129
Lists that include Parker
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Parker mean?
Parker is an English and French name that means “park keeper”.
What is the origin of the name Parker?
Parker has English and French roots. Parker comes from an English occupational surname for a person who looked after a park, meaning an enclosed hunting ground on a medieval estate.
Is Parker a popular name?
Yes. Parker ranked #102 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Parker a boy or girl name?
Parker is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Parker were girls and 75% were boys.
How do you pronounce Parker?
Parker is usually pronounced PAHR-kur. 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