What does the name Foster mean?

Foster is a boy name of English origin: occupational surname, traditionally 'forester' or 'keeper of the forest'.

When was the name Foster most popular?

In US Social Security records since 1890, Foster peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

What are names similar to Foster?

Names similar to Foster in origin and style include Porter, Dexter, Turner, Clayton, Leland.

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Foster

boy name

Origin

English

Syllables

Peak era

2010s/2020s

Today

▬ Steady

Meaning

occupational surname, traditionally 'forester' or 'keeper of the forest'

Popularity, 1890–2024

1890speak 2010s

Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Foster peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

See popularity in Brazil

Popularity in Brazil

25 people · the #106,978 first name in Brazil · median age 38

Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022

Names that fit alongside Foster

Porter Dexter Turner Clayton Leland Lawson

The Foster deep dive

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Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Foster truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Foster fits with your family’s names and surname.

Both reports, explained →

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