Turner Unisex

Popularity: #702 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TUR-ner //ˈtɜrnər//

Origin: English; Occupational

Meaning: English: 'one who turns or works with a lathe'; Occupational: 'turner'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Turner has its roots in the Old French word "turner," which means "to turn" or "to rotate." This term was derived from the Latin "tornare," meaning "to turn in a lathe," which itself comes from the Greek "tornus," referring to a tool used for turning wood. The name entered the English language during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many French words and names were adopted into English.

Initially, it was used as a surname for individuals who worked as turners, craftsmen who shaped wood or metal using a lathe. Historically, the surname Turner can be traced back to various notable figures and events.

In the medieval period, it became common among artisans and tradespeople, reflecting the importance of craftsmanship in society. The name appears in historical records as early as the 13th century, with individuals bearing the surname noted in various legal documents and land grants.

The name gained further recognition through notable figures in English history, including the 16th-century poet and playwright, William Turner, who was known for his contributions to literature and the arts. Culturally, the name Turner has been associated with themes of craftsmanship and artistry, symbolizing the skill and creativity of those who work with their hands.

The name has also been linked to various traditions and guilds, particularly in the context of medieval trade. In some cases, diminutive forms such as "Turny" have emerged, reflecting the affectionate or familiar use of the name.

Overall, the name Turner carries a legacy of craftsmanship and creativity, deeply rooted in the historical and cultural fabric of England.

Famous people named Turner

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

We also feature individuals named Turner 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.

Turner Sports is a sports broadcasting division best known for NBA on TNT, March Madness, and PGA Championship coverage.

Fictional characters named Turner

The following list of fictional characters named Turner 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.

Turner is a fictional character from the animated television series The Amazing World of Gumball. He is a minor character who is a classmate of Gumball and Darwin, known for his distinctive appearance and personality.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Turner, 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 Turner. 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 Turner was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Turner has ranked as high as #1126 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, California, and Alabama.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

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

Top States for Turner (2024)

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.

State Births Share
GA 16
10%
NC 13
8%
TX 12
7%
TN 12
7%
WI 11
7%
FL 11
7%
CA 9
6%
OH 9
6%
OK 9
6%
SC 9
6%
AL 8
5%
MO 8
5%
VA 7
4%
IL 7
4%
MI 6
4%

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 Turner.

YearBirths
2024223
2023203
2022173
2021241
2020211
2019246
2018243
2017202
2016236
2015233
2014224
2013233
2012209
2011220
2010175
2009184
2008205
2007210
2006181
2005155
2004188
2003155
2002173
2001194
2000173
1999194
1998183
1997170
1996172
1995147
1994147
199398
199293
199177
199080
198954
198847
198746
198646
198548
198439
198334
198230
198122
198010
197915
197811
197711
197615
197512
197416
197313
19729
197119
197015
196918
196821
196722
196625
196514
196423
196325
196218
196121
196026
195916
195827
195729
195632
195534
195431
195345
195230
195138
195037
194936
194843
194740
194627
194538
194439
194333
194236
194120
194031
193946
193825
193733
193629
193531
193441
193342
193236
193139
193052
192949
192844
192746
192655
192560
192446
192354
192275
192174
192066
191959
191882
191768
191668
191568
191447
191336
191234
191124
191029
190924
190814
190719
190618
190525
190413
190312
190223
190114
190018
189916
189815
189715
189622
189513
189421
189320
189215
189111
189017
188918
188827
188713
188615
188513
188410
188311
188217
188118
188011