Porter Boy

Popularity: #493 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: POR-ter //ˈpɔːrtər//

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: gatekeeper; French: carrier

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Porter has its roots in the Old French word "portier," which means "gatekeeper" or "doorkeeper." This term itself derives from the Latin "portarius," a derivative of "porta," meaning "gate." The name entered the English language during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French terms were adopted into English, particularly in the context of occupations and roles within society. As a surname, Porter originally denoted someone who worked as a gatekeeper or a porter, a person responsible for carrying loads or managing entry to a place.

Historically, the name Porter has been associated with various notable figures and events. In medieval England, the role of a porter was significant in castles and manors, where they managed the entry points and ensured the security of the premises.

The name appears in records from the 13th century, and it was not uncommon for individuals to adopt occupational surnames based on their roles in society. The name also appears in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it may refer to individuals fulfilling this essential role.

Culturally, the name Porter has resonated through literature and history, often symbolizing responsibility and guardianship. In the context of English literature, characters with the name or similar roles have been depicted as figures of authority or protectors.

The name has also been associated with various diminutives and variants, such as Port, which have emerged over time. Overall, the name Porter reflects a rich historical and occupational background, encapsulating the significance of its etymological roots in the fabric of English society.

Famous people named Porter

In this section, you will find notable people named Porter. 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 Porter who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Porter 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.

Porter Wagoner was a country music singer and television host best known for The Porter Wagoner Show, Green Green Grass of Home, and A Satisfied Mind.

Porter Robinson is a music producer and DJ best known for Worlds, Shelter, and Nurture.

Fictional characters named Porter

The following list of fictional characters named Porter is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Porter is a fictional character from the video game series BioShock. He is a key figure in the narrative of BioShock Infinite, serving as a leader of the resistance against the oppressive regime in Columbia.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Porter, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

ParkerHunterCarterSawyerJasperTyler

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Porter. 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.

PrestonParkerPaytonPortiaPerryPaxtonPaden

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Porter was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Porter has ranked as high as #723 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Utah, Texas, California, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Porter has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Porter 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 Porter was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Porter.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 599 531 68
2024 538 464 74
2023 676 605 71
2022 673 592 81
2021 764 698 66
2020 765 707 58
2019 668 613 55
2018 797 749 48
2017 848 802 46
2016 805 749 56
2015 921 862 59
2014 897 857 40
2013 806 778 28
2012 677 644 33
2011 629 602 27
2010 619 602 17
2009 592 578 14
2008 594 574 20
2007 579 566 13
2006 565 553 12
2005 420 405 15
2004 344 336 8
2003 320 314 6
2002 276 265 11
2001 241 225 16
2000 208 201 7
1999 182 176 6
1998 109 103 6
1997 80 80 0
1996 76 71 5
1995 72 65 7
1994 73 66 7
1993 49 49 0
1992 37 37 0
1991 37 37 0
1990 36 36 0
1989 27 27 0
1988 25 25 0
1987 25 25 0
1986 26 26 0
1985 31 31 0
1984 24 24 0
1983 31 31 0
1982 27 27 0
1981 22 22 0
1980 19 19 0
1979 15 15 0
1978 19 19 0
1977 32 32 0
1976 16 16 0
1975 23 23 0
1974 21 21 0
1973 21 21 0
1972 31 31 0
1971 33 33 0
1970 30 30 0
1969 34 34 0
1968 31 31 0
1967 22 22 0
1966 38 38 0
1965 37 37 0
1964 43 37 6
1963 42 42 0
1962 27 27 0
1961 36 36 0
1960 29 29 0
1959 36 36 0
1958 38 38 0
1957 46 46 0
1956 53 53 0
1955 61 61 0
1954 43 43 0
1953 44 44 0
1952 50 50 0
1951 48 48 0
1950 54 54 0
1949 62 62 0
1948 46 46 0
1947 59 59 0
1946 53 53 0
1945 40 40 0
1944 42 42 0
1943 66 66 0
1942 73 73 0
1941 57 57 0
1940 61 61 0
1939 57 57 0
1938 70 70 0
1937 65 65 0
1936 58 58 0
1935 51 51 0
1934 59 59 0
1933 69 69 0
1932 74 74 0
1931 74 74 0
1930 78 78 0
1929 84 84 0
1928 107 107 0
1927 81 81 0
1926 76 76 0
1925 102 102 0
1924 104 104 0
1923 88 88 0
1922 101 101 0
1921 119 119 0
1920 120 120 0
1919 114 114 0
1918 115 115 0
1917 115 108 7
1916 131 131 0
1915 103 103 0
1914 97 97 0
1913 76 76 0
1912 68 68 0
1911 44 44 0
1910 40 40 0
1909 26 26 0
1908 31 31 0
1907 29 29 0
1906 24 24 0
1905 35 35 0
1904 27 27 0
1903 22 22 0
1902 33 33 0
1901 25 25 0
1900 25 25 0
1899 25 25 0
1898 34 34 0
1897 27 27 0
1896 26 26 0
1895 25 25 0
1894 26 26 0
1893 25 25 0
1892 35 35 0
1891 20 20 0
1890 26 26 0
1889 20 20 0
1888 37 37 0
1887 14 14 0
1886 24 24 0
1885 36 36 0
1884 22 22 0
1883 23 23 0
1882 28 28 0
1881 32 32 0
1880 38 38 0

Top States for Porter (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 58
12%
NC 34
7%
CA 23
5%
TN 22
5%
PA 20
4%
MI 18
4%
IL 18
4%
UT 16
3%
OH 16
3%
WI 16
3%
CO 15
3%
FL 14
3%
VA 14
3%
WA 14
3%
MO 14
3%
NE 13
3%
MN 13
3%
KS 12
3%
GA 11
2%
IN 11
2%
AL 10
2%
OK 9
2%
KY 8
2%
NY 8
2%
MD 8
2%
LA 7
1%
IA 7
1%
SC 7
1%
OR 6
1%
AR 6
1%
ND 6
1%
ID 5
1%
WV 5
1%
AZ 5
1%