Foster
A boys’ name of Old English origin, meaning one who keeps or tends forest.
Babies a year
238
the US, 2017
Rarity
Rare
among names in use
US popularity
#901
new to the top 1000
UK popularity
#4275
4 babies
How Foster has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2016 | #963 |
| 2017 | #936 |
| 2019 | #946 |
| 2020 | #961 |
| 2023 | #967 |
| 2025 | #901 |
In 2025, 4 babies in England and Wales were named Foster. In the US, 238 were, though that figure is from 2017 — the most recent full year we hold.
Looking further back: between 1880 and 2008, Foster was most common in 1885, when it went to 0.02% of American babies of that sex. Squarely vintage-revival territory.
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