Porter

“Doorkeeper; bearer” — Old French via Middle English origin

Boy's name · #560 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Porter has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #273 (1880) · 20,808 babies named Porter all-time · 1 in 3,200 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 4,800 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 40 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Porters

Porter Robinson — American DJ, singer and record producer (born 1992)
Porter Wagoner — American country singer (1927–2007)
Porter Hall — American actor (1888-1953)
Porter H. Dale — American politician (1867–1933)
Porter J. McCumber — American politician (1858–1933)

Among 74 notable people named Porter:

No single standout — notable Porters spread across many fields.

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.