Anker
Anker is a given name of Danish, Faroese and Norwegian origin, sometimes used as a surname. Notable people with the name include:
- Danish
Meaning & Origin of Anker
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Anker is a given name of Danish, Faroese and Norwegian origin, sometimes used as a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Danish
The Story of Anker
Anker first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1917, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 8 Ankers were born — ranking #8,889 that year. As of 2026, Anker ranks #12,301 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 41 Ankers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Anker
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Ancher Nelsen (1904–1992), American politician
- Anker Boye (born 1950), Danish politician
- Anker Engelund (1889–1961), Danish civil engineer
- Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016), Danish politician
- Anker Eli Petersen (born 1959), Faroese writer and artist
- Anker Rogstad (1925–1994), Norwegian criminal and writer
- Anker Smith (1759–1819), English engraver
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Anker
Phonetically similar names — useful when Anker is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anker
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How popular is Anker in 2026?
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About the name Anker
Anker is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 41 births in the dataset. Anker's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #8,889. Use the chart and map above to compare Anker's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2019 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.