Barker Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BAR-ker //ˈbɑːrkər//
Origin: English; Occupational
Meaning: English: dweller by the brook; Occupational: baker
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Barker has its roots in Old English, deriving from the term "bearc," which means "a person who works with bark" or "a bark worker." This occupational surname was likely used to denote someone involved in the trade of tree bark, which was historically significant for various uses, including tanning leather and making ropes. The name evolved through Middle English as "Barker," maintaining its association with the profession.
As surnames became hereditary in England during the late Middle Ages, Barker transitioned from a descriptor of occupation to a family name, becoming established in various regions of England by the 13th century. Historically, the name Barker is noted in various records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears in different forms, indicating the presence of individuals engaged in related trades.
The name has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including John Barker, a 17th-century English poet, and various local gentry and landowners in England. The name's presence in historical texts and documents underscores its long-standing significance in English culture.
Culturally, the surname Barker has been linked to themes of craftsmanship and connection to nature, reflecting the importance of trades in medieval society. The name has also been adopted in various forms across different cultures, sometimes appearing as a given name or in diminutive forms.
Its enduring nature can be attributed to the historical significance of the trade it represents, as well as its integration into English-speaking societies, where surnames often carry a legacy of occupation and lineage.
Famous people named Barker
In this section, you will find notable people named Barker. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Barker who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Barker who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Barker is a British television presenter best known for The Price Is Right and The Generation Game.
Barker is a Canadian actor best known for his roles in The Last House on the Left and The Dead Zone.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Barker, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Barker. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Barker was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Barker has ranked as high as #1349 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Barker has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Barker is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Barker was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Barker
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Barker.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 1920 | 6 |
| 1913 | 5 |