Parker
Parker is an English-language unisex given name of Old English origin, meaning 'park keeper', hence also an Old English occupational surname. Parker was more common in the 19th century as a personal name than it is now. The name has variants.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Parker
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Parker is an English-language unisex given name of Old English origin, meaning 'park keeper', hence also an Old English occupational surname. Parker was more common in the 19th century as a personal name than it is now. The name has variants.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Parker
As a girl name
American parents first put Parker on the record books as a girl name in 1970, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 2,538 Parkers were born — ranking #100 that year. About 48% of every Parker on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Parker ranks #100 for girls with 2,538 births, rising sharply (+25% over the past five years). All told, over 35K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Parker as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 14 babies received it. 2014 was its biggest year on record, with 5,720 newborns named Parker — #73 in the national rankings. About 37% of every Parker on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Parker ranks #94 for boys with 3,634 births, gradually falling (-7%). All told, over 135K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Parker
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- P. O. Ackley (1903-1989), American gunsmith
- Parker Boudreaux (born 1998), American professional wrestler
- Parker Brailsford (born 2003), American football player
- Parker Burrell (1937–2010), Canadian politician
- Parker Cleaveland (1780–1858), American geologist and mineralogist
- Parker Dunshee (born 1995), American baseball player
- Parker Ehinger (born 1992), American football player
- Parker Esse , American choreographer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Parker
Phonetically similar names — useful when Parker 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 Parker
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In which U.S. states is Parker most popular?
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About the name Parker
Parker is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 135K births in the dataset. Parker's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #72. Use the chart and map above to compare Parker's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.