Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Walker
BoyEnglish, Old English· “cloth fuller”
- Meaning
- cloth fuller
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- WAW-kur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #78
- US babies 2025
- 4,204
- Best rank
- #78 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Walker
Walker is an English and Old English name that means “cloth fuller”.
Walker is an English occupational surname for a fuller, someone who treated freshly woven cloth by trampling it in water to thicken and clean it. The word comes from the Old English wealcan, meaning to roll or move about. Walker has become a popular first name in the United States, fitting alongside other surname-names like Hunter and Parker. It has a relaxed, outdoorsy feel, reinforced by the everyday sense of walking. The name is easy to spell and pronounce, and it works well as a first or middle name.
Popularity over time
Walker 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 117 different years. Its best national rank was #78 in 2022, the same year it reached its highest count of 4,250 babies. In 2025, 4,204 babies were named Walker, and it ranked #78 nationally. That is 316% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #491 in 1920, #947 in 1950, #1,186 in 1980, #427 in 2000, #426 in 2010, and #78 in 2025. Of the 47,914 US boys named Walker since records began, 44% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 10,057 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Theo, Micah, Emmett, Kingston, and Legend.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Walker ranked highest in Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | #14 | 150 |
| Mississippi | #16 | 68 |
| Kentucky | #19 | 136 |
| Tennessee | #20 | 213 |
| Montana | #23 | 30 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Walker over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Walker is usually pronounced WAW-kur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with W and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Walker
A few middle names that flow with Walker: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Walker
Similar names
Hunter Boy
HUHN-tur
“hunter” · English
#130
Ryder Boy
RY-dur
“horseman, rider” · English
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Dexter Boy
DEHK-stur
“dyer” · English
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Carter Boy
KAHR-tur
“transporter of goods by cart” · English
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Tyler Boy
TY-lur
“tile maker” · English
#220
Cooper Boy
KOO-pur
“barrel maker” · English
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Archer Boy
AR-cher
“bowman” · English
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Lester Boy
LEHS-tur
“from the English city of Leicester” · English
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Wyatt Boy
WY-uht
“brave in war” · English
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Riley Unisex
RY-lee
“rye clearing” · English
#48
Parker Unisex
PAHR-kur
“park keeper” · English
#102
Sawyer Unisex
SAW-yur
“one who saws wood” · English
#122
Lists that include Walker
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Walker mean?
Walker is an English and Old English name that means “cloth fuller”.
What is the origin of the name Walker?
Walker has English and Old English roots. Walker is an English occupational surname for a fuller, someone who treated freshly woven cloth by trampling it in water to thicken and clean it.
Is Walker a popular name?
Yes. Walker ranked #78 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Walker a boy or girl name?
Walker is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Walker over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Walker?
Walker is usually pronounced WAW-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