Baby Name Popularity Profile

Foster

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Foster.

✦ Forest keeper 🌍 English nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #901
All-Time Peak Rank #280 Achieved 1896
Total U.S. Births 13,122 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 94.3% Boy / 5.7% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 264 births in 2025
💡 The Foster Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Forest keeper
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from an Old French occupational surname 'forster' meaning 'forest keeper' or 'woodsman', which was adopted into English.
Pronunciation: FAW-ster
Themes & Categories
nature traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Foster

According to SSA data, Foster achieved its highest historical rank of #280 in 1896. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2025 with 264 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 34.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Foster across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +34.7% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 264 births in 2025
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 48 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 241
1890s: 351
1900s: 343
1910s: 1,406
1920s: 1,644
1930s: 1,041
1940s: 1,065
1950s: 757
1960s: 476
1970s: 359
1980s: 361
1990s: 849
2000s: 981
2010s: 1,894
2020s: 1,354

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Fos-ter
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with F, a letter used by only 1.3% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Foster.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Kentucky
Top States Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, West Virginia
States with Data 37
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Kentucky Unranked 380 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #432 389 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #433 373 1921 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #480 293 1920 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 169 1921 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #1065 411 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #726 354 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #1137 613 1927 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #738 223 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #656 482 1922 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #918 781 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #492 72 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #497 190 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #648 106 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #653 216 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #1287 182 2004 Insufficient historical volume
New York #1847 407 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #460 57 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #758 116 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado Unranked 61 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #487 57 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri Unranked 89 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #1061 177 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #1055 53 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin Unranked 58 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #609 38 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 21 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #739 47 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts Unranked 62 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas Unranked 26 2013 Insufficient historical volume
California #1888 207 2014 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 6 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon Unranked 16 2013 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey Unranked 42 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 6 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland Unranked 22 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona Unranked 5 2014 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Brewer Rayden Kaiser Waylen Kolson Kannon Wesson Casper Judson Jethro
👧 Sister Suggestions
Zainab Quincy Denver Ensley Odette Stormi Maddie Sunday August Bexley

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