Is Porter a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Porter is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Porter?

It’s currently ranked #521 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Porter?

POR-ter · IPA: //ˈpɔːrtər//

Porter Unisex

Popularity: #521 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationPOR-ter / /ˈpɔːrtər/

English; French

Meaning

English: gatekeeper; French: carrier

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Porter has its roots in the Old French word 'portier', meaning gatekeeper or doorkeeper. It was originally used as a surname for individuals who worked as porters or carriers. Over time, it transitioned into a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name has been popular in various forms since the Middle Ages.

Trend Summary

Porter has seen a steady rise in popularity in the United States over the past few decades.

Variants

Porter

International Variants

Portier (French)

Famous people named Porter

Porter G. Smith was an American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Porter Wagoner was an American country music singer known for his television show and distinctive style.

Porter Moser is an American college basketball coach recognized for his successful coaching career.

Porter H. Smith was an American businessman and philanthropist known for his contributions to local charities.

Fictional characters named Porter

Porter is a character in the video game 'Bioshock Infinite', serving as a guide in the story.

Porter is a character in the animated series 'The Magic School Bus', known for his role as a bus driver.

Sibling Suggestions

Parker Hunter Carter Sawyer Jasper Tyler

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Porter was first seen in the United States in 1880. Porter has ranked as high as #668 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)

Top States for Porter (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	46	11%
NC	28	7%
CA	23	5%
PA	20	5%
MI	18	4%
WI	16	4%
TN	16	4%
UT	16	4%
OH	16	4%
WA	14	3%
MO	14	3%
FL	14	3%
VA	14	3%
MN	13	3%
IL	13	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	38
1881	32
1882	28
1883	23
1884	22
1885	36
1886	24
1887	14
1888	37
1889	20
1890	26
1891	20
1892	35
1893	25
1894	26
1895	25
1896	26
1897	27
1898	34
1899	25
1900	25
1901	25
1902	33
1903	22
1904	27
1905	35
1906	24
1907	29
1908	31
1909	26
1910	40
1911	44
1912	68
1913	76
1914	97
1915	103
1916	131
1917	108
1918	115
1919	114
1920	120
1921	119
1922	101
1923	88
1924	104
1925	102
1926	76
1927	81
1928	107
1929	84
1930	78
1931	74
1932	74
1933	69
1934	59
1935	51
1936	58
1937	65
1938	70
1939	57
1940	61
1941	57
1942	73
1943	66
1944	42
1945	40
1946	53
1947	59
1948	46
1949	62
1950	54
1951	48
1952	50
1953	44
1954	43
1955	61
1956	53
1957	46
1958	38
1959	36
1960	29
1961	36
1962	27
1963	42
1964	37
1965	37
1966	38
1967	22
1968	31
1969	34
1970	30
1971	33
1972	31
1973	21
1974	21
1975	23
1976	16
1977	32
1978	19
1979	15
1980	19
1981	22
1982	27
1983	31
1984	24
1985	31
1986	26
1987	25
1988	25
1989	27
1990	36
1991	37
1992	37
1993	49
1994	66
1995	65
1996	71
1997	80
1998	103
1999	176
2000	201
2001	225
2002	265
2003	314
2004	336
2005	405
2006	553
2007	566
2008	574
2009	578
2010	602
2011	602
2012	644
2013	778
2014	857
2015	862
2016	749
2017	802
2018	749
2019	612
2020	707
2021	698
2022	592
2023	604
2024	463