Is Foster a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Foster is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Foster?

It’s currently ranked #723 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

Foster Unisex

Popularity: #723 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationFOS-ter / /ˈfɒstər/

English; Irish

Meaning

English: one who fosters; Irish: a steward or caretaker

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Foster has English origins, often associated with the act of fostering or caring for others. In Irish culture, it can denote a steward or caretaker, reflecting a role of responsibility. The name has been used as both a surname and a given name, gaining popularity in various English-speaking countries. It has historical roots in both familial and community contexts.

Trend Summary

The name Foster has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a modest presence in recent years.

Variants

Fost
Foster

International Variants

Foster (English)

Famous people named Foster

Foster Brooks was an American actor and comedian known for his role in the television series 'The Dean Martin Show'.

Foster G. McGaw was an American businessman and philanthropist recognized for his contributions to healthcare.

Foster C. McGaw was a notable American businessman and the founder of the McGaw Medical Center.

Foster the People is an American indie pop band known for their hit song 'Pumped Up Kicks'.

Fictional characters named Foster

Foster is a character in the animated series 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends', where he is one of the residents.

Foster is a character in the video game 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends: Imagination Invaders', based on the same franchise.

Sibling Suggestions

Fletcher Finn Felix Flynn Fraser Fergus

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Foster was first seen in the United States in 1880. Foster has ranked as high as #1145 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and New York. In the past 5 years the name Foster has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Foster (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	20	12%
IN	14	9%
TN	12	7%
GA	10	6%
NC	10	6%
OH	7	4%
KY	7	4%
PA	7	4%
MI	7	4%
FL	6	4%
MO	6	4%
UT	6	4%
AL	6	4%
LA	6	4%
SC	6	4%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	16
1881	22
1882	34
1883	32
1884	20
1885	25
1886	22
1887	17
1888	26
1889	27
1890	23
1891	32
1892	41
1893	36
1894	40
1895	27
1896	43
1897	37
1898	37
1899	35
1900	29
1901	36
1902	30
1903	28
1904	42
1905	31
1906	41
1907	29
1908	41
1909	36
1910	42
1911	61
1912	96
1913	122
1914	138
1915	166
1916	204
1917	177
1918	212
1919	188
1920	201
1921	199
1922	189
1923	176
1924	171
1925	159
1926	167
1927	155
1928	110
1929	117
1930	121
1931	111
1932	99
1933	100
1934	111
1935	116
1936	86
1937	102
1938	108
1939	86
1940	90
1941	93
1942	116
1943	119
1944	107
1945	106
1946	88
1947	122
1948	117
1949	107
1950	91
1951	83
1952	81
1953	73
1954	62
1955	73
1956	86
1957	73
1958	67
1959	69
1960	53
1961	75
1962	58
1963	42
1964	54
1965	48
1966	34
1967	41
1968	45
1969	26
1970	41
1971	29
1972	27
1973	35
1974	28
1975	42
1976	37
1977	46
1978	33
1979	41
1980	31
1981	35
1982	36
1983	35
1984	32
1985	43
1986	27
1987	41
1988	41
1989	40
1990	50
1991	52
1992	58
1993	74
1994	93
1995	109
1996	81
1997	113
1998	106
1999	113
2000	98
2001	91
2002	107
2003	95
2004	111
2005	84
2006	99
2007	93
2008	87
2009	116
2010	126
2011	102
2012	200
2013	213
2014	209
2015	196
2016	214
2017	223
2018	184
2019	227
2020	226
2021	217
2022	213
2023	232
2024	202