Porter
Every Porter since 1880 — 21,801 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Porter
Porter is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #560 in 2025 with 531 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 21,801 American babies have been named Porter. Its peak came in 2015, when 921 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Porter stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Porter year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 68 | #2,578 | 531 | #560 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2,454 | 464 | #618 |
| 2023 | 71 | #2,511 | 605 | #500 |
| 2022 | 81 | #2,312 | 592 | #506 |
| 2021 | 66 | #2,634 | 698 | #443 |
| 2020 | 58 | #2,846 | 707 | #424 |
| 2019 | 55 | #2,987 | 613 | #478 |
| 2018 | 48 | #3,334 | 749 | #419 |
| 2017 | 46 | #3,427 | 802 | #399 |
| 2016 | 56 | #3,004 | 749 | #419 |
| 2015 | 59 | #2,960 | 862 | #377 |
| 2014 | 40 | #3,831 | 857 | #368 |
| 2013 | 28 | #4,995 | 778 | #384 |
| 2012 | 33 | #4,463 | 644 | #430 |
| 2011 | 27 | #5,170 | 602 | #450 |
| 2010 | 17 | #7,433 | 602 | #447 |
| 2009 | 14 | #8,779 | 578 | #474 |
| 2008 | 20 | #6,752 | 574 | #483 |
| 2007 | 13 | #9,417 | 566 | #474 |
| 2006 | 12 | #9,764 | 553 | #479 |
| 2005 | 15 | #7,818 | 405 | #576 |
| 2004 | 8 | #12,462 | 336 | #631 |
| 2003 | 6 | #15,288 | 314 | #646 |
| 2002 | 11 | #9,332 | 265 | #687 |
| 2001 | 16 | #6,894 | 225 | #765 |
| 2000 | 7 | #12,812 | 201 | #803 |
| 1995 | 7 | #11,440 | 65 | #1,488 |
| 1990 | — | — | 36 | #2,074 |
| 1985 | — | — | 31 | #1,907 |
| 1980 | — | — | 19 | #2,596 |
| 1975 | — | — | 23 | #2,048 |
| 1970 | — | — | 30 | #1,571 |
| 1965 | — | — | 37 | #1,266 |
| 1960 | — | — | 29 | #1,516 |
| 1955 | — | — | 61 | #964 |
| 1950 | — | — | 54 | #944 |
| 1945 | — | — | 40 | #1,014 |
| 1940 | — | — | 61 | #798 |
| 1935 | — | — | 51 | #891 |
| 1930 | — | — | 78 | #707 |
| 1925 | — | — | 102 | #625 |
| 1920 | — | — | 120 | #571 |
| 1915 | — | — | 103 | #556 |
| 1910 | — | — | 40 | #437 |
| 1905 | — | — | 35 | #354 |
| 1900 | — | — | 25 | #465 |
| 1895 | — | — | 25 | #388 |
| 1890 | — | — | 26 | #349 |
| 1885 | — | — | 36 | #281 |
| 1880 | — | — | 38 | #275 |
Famous people named Porter
- Porter Goss Politician · b. 1938
- Porter Wagoner Singer · 1927–2007
- Porter Robinson Musician · b. 1992
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Porter in 2025?
Porter ranked #560 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 531 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Porter?
21,801 babies have been named Porter in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Porter most popular?
Porter peaked in 2015, when 921 newborns received the name.
Is Porter a boy or girl name?
Porter is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 95% of babies with the name.
Is the name Porter rising or falling?
Porter is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Porter?
Well-known people named Porter include Porter Goss (politician), Porter Wagoner (singer), Porter Robinson (musician).