Parker
Boy name · #102 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Parker? In official American birth records, Parker has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Parker ranks #102 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 3,477 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #72, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 518 boys born in 2025 was named Parker.
The 145-year story
Parker first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 14 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 5,720 boys were named Parker — good for #73 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Parker per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Parker against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Parker in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Parker is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Parker is most common
Geography matters for names, and Parker is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Parker is most common in VT (12 per 1,000), ME (6.8 per 1,000), WV (6.7 per 1,000), NH (5.1 per 1,000), DE (4.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Parker is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Parker
Statistically, parents drawn to Parker tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tucker, Xavier, Sawyer, Ryker, and Ryder.
TuckerXavierSawyerRykerRyderCarterWalkerColton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Parker | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,477 | #102 |
| 2024 | 3,616 | #97 |
| 2023 | 3,807 | #91 |
| 2022 | 3,861 | #94 |
| 2021 | 3,845 | #93 |
| 2020 | 3,814 | #95 |
| 2019 | 3,907 | #98 |
| 2018 | 4,007 | #96 |
| 2017 | 4,382 | #90 |
| 2016 | 4,730 | #87 |
| 2015 | 5,418 | #72 |
| 2014 | 5,720 | #73 |
| 2013 | 5,672 | #74 |
| 2012 | 5,370 | #81 |
| 2011 | 5,296 | #79 |
| 2010 | 4,732 | #85 |
| 2009 | 4,626 | #96 |
| 2008 | 4,321 | #103 |
| 2007 | 4,077 | #108 |
| 2006 | 3,667 | #116 |
| 2005 | 3,404 | #119 |
| 2004 | 3,063 | #131 |
| 2003 | 3,186 | #125 |
| 2002 | 3,099 | #126 |
| 2001 | 3,187 | #123 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Parker?
In official American birth records, the name Parker first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 14 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Parker a popular boy name?
Parker ranked #102 among boys in 2025 with 3,477 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #72.
When was the name Parker most popular?
Parker peaked in 2014, when 5,720 American boys received the name (ranked #73 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Parker?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 518 newborn American boys was named Parker. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.