Porter Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Boy Names Like Porter

Porter Name Origin: English
Pronunciation: p(oor)-ter
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Porter Name Meaning

The name Porter is often associated with strength, reliability, and responsibility. It means “doorkeeper” or “gatekeeper” in Old French.

History of the Name Porter

Porter is an English surname derived from the Old French word “portier”, meaning “doorkeeper”. It was first used as a surname to describe someone who worked as a doorkeeper or gatekeeper at a castle or large estate. In the 19th century, it began to be used as a given name, most likely because of its association with strength and reliability.

Origins of the Name Porter

Popularity of the Name Porter

Porter has been a popular name in the United States in recent years, reaching its peak of popularity in 2018. It is a stylish and modern name that is well-liked by many parents for its strong and reliable connotations.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Porter was a relatively uncommon name, with only a few hundred baby boys being given the name each year.

In the 2010s, its popularity began to rise, and it reached its peak of popularity in 2018. In recent years, its popularity has declined slightly, but it remains a well-liked name.

Famous Porters

Cole Porter, American composer and songwriter
Katherine Anne Porter, American author and journalist
Hal Porter, Australian author and playwright

Final Thoughts on the Name Porter

In conclusion, Porter is a stylish and modern name that is well-liked for its strong and reliable connotations. Its history as a surname and association with strength and responsibility make it a fitting name for a boy, and its popularity in recent years shows that it will continue to be a popular choice for many years to come.

Porter Name Popularity

How popular is the name Porter? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	12	0.0034%
1911	—	13	0.0035%
1912	—	32	0.0063%
1913	—	43	0.0076%
1914	—	58	0.0083%
1915	—	63	0.0069%
1916	—	88	0.0091%
1917	—	68	0.0068%
1918	—	72	0.0067%
1919	—	79	0.0075%
1920	—	91	0.0082%
1921	—	82	0.0072%
1922	—	63	0.0057%
1923	—	51	0.0046%
1924	—	71	0.0061%
1925	—	53	0.0047%
1926	—	33	0.003%
1927	—	48	0.0043%
1928	—	67	0.0063%
1929	—	43	0.0042%
1930	—	27	0.0026%
1931	—	43	0.0044%
1932	—	45	0.0046%
1933	—	35	0.0038%
1934	—	34	0.0035%
1935	—	0	0%
1936	—	23	0.0024%
1937	—	26	0.0026%
1938	—	32	0.0031%
1939	—	14	0.0014%
1940	—	15	0.0014%
1941	—	21	0.0019%
1942	—	37	0.0029%
1943	—	19	0.0015%
1944	—	10	0.0008%
1945	—	6	0.0005%
1946	—	6	0.0004%
1947	—	6	0.0004%
1948	—	16	0.001%
1949	—	32	0.002%
1950	—	23	0.0014%
1951	—	17	0.001%
1952	—	21	0.0012%
1953	—	0	0%
1954	—	5	0.0003%
1955	—	22	0.0012%
1956	—	24	0.0013%
1957	—	13	0.0007%
1958	—	0	0%
1959	—	0	0%
1960	—	0	0%
1961	—	6	0.0003%
1962	—	0	0%
1963	—	5	0.0003%
1964	—	0	0%
1965	—	0	0%
1966	—	5	0.0003%
1967	—	0	0%
1968	—	5	0.0003%
1969	—	11	0.0007%
1970	—	0	0%
1971	—	5	0.0003%
1972	—	0	0%
1973	—	0	0%
1974	—	0	0%
1975	—	0	0%
1976	—	0	0%
1977	—	0	0%
1978	—	0	0%
1979	—	0	0%
1980	—	0	0%
1981	—	0	0%
1982	—	0	0%
1983	—	5	0.0003%
1984	—	6	0.0004%
1985	—	0	0%
1986	—	0	0%
1987	—	0	0%
1988	—	6	0.0004%
1989	—	0	0%
1990	—	12	0.0007%
1991	—	12	0.0007%
1992	—	5	0.0003%
1993	—	16	0.001%
1994	—	17	0.0011%
1995	—	26	0.0017%
1996	—	45	0.003%
1997	—	40	0.0027%
1998	—	57	0.0038%
1999	—	113	0.0075%
2000	—	142	0.0093%
2001	—	174	0.0115%
2002	—	208	0.0139%
2003	—	269	0.0177%
2004	—	282	0.0185%
2005	—	365	0.0239%
2006	—	509	0.0325%
2007	—	542	0.0344%
2008	—	530	0.0343%
2009	—	549	0.0367%
2010	—	578	0.0401%
2011	—	569	0.0399%
2012	—	609	0.0427%
2013	—	744	0.0523%
2014	—	835	0.0573%
2015	—	832	0.0572%
2016	—	713	0.0495%
2017	—	774	0.0555%
2018	—	709	0.0516%
2019	—	578	0.0427%
2020	—	647	0.0508%
2021	—	666	0.0545%
2022	—	566	0.0429%
2023	—	576	0.0445%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Porter

If you like Porter, you’ll love these other names like Porter.

What names sound like Porter?

If you like how Porter sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Porter.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Bertrem	Bright, famous raven	German
Broder

What names are similar to Porter?

Find a name that’s like Porter, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Carter	Cart user	English
Parker	Keeper of the park	English
Peter	Stone	Greek
Pieter	Rock	Greek
Potter	Maker of pots	English
Procter	Steward, official	Latin

Lists With Porter

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Porter.

Share Your Thoughts

2 Comments

Shelbie Golden Dec 1 at 8:07 pm

Porter WAS my boy name, until we found out we were having a girl and my husband suggested it be our girl name. I couldn’t have picked a better name for her. Now wild and 3.. She is bold, she is unique and special. I love it so much for a girl it is perfect for her

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Ashlen Mar 23 at 9:08 am

We wanted something a littler different than most common boy names. It’s a family last name but we also know someone else with a little boy named Porter so it gave us reassurance it’s not too out there. We also have him the middle name James so he could have a nick name PJ.

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