Foster Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Foster is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Foster?
Foster is spelled F-O-S-T-E-R. The name has 6 letters.
Foster at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Foster may derive from the Old English terms for “forester” or one who tends a forest.
- Origin
- Foster is commonly associated with English origins and may derive from occupational surnames related to forest tending.
- Pronunciation
- FOS-ter · 2 syllables
Foster Popularity in 2025
Rank#7,491
Recorded Births14
Rank#901
Recorded Births264
- Girls usage fell 1,692 places to #7,491 and recorded 7 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 175 places to #901 and recorded 62 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Foster Mean?
Foster may derive from the Old English terms for “forester” or one who tends a forest.
Origin: Foster is commonly associated with English origins and may derive from occupational surnames related to forest tending.
How Do You Pronounce Foster?
PronunciationFOS-ter
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Foster?
- History
- The name Foster has been used as a surname and as a given name in English-speaking regions.
Foster Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 14 | #7,491 |
| 2025 | Boys | 264 | #901 |
| 2024 | Girls | 21 | #5,799 |
| 2024 | Boys | 202 | #1,076 |
| 2023 | Girls | 25 | #5,126 |
| 2023 | Boys | 232 | #966 |
| 2022 | Girls | 16 | #6,984 |
| 2022 | Boys | 213 | #1,037 |
| 2021 | Girls | 17 | #6,691 |
| 2021 | Boys | 217 | #1,006 |
| 2020 | Girls | 21 | #5,667 |
| 2020 | Boys | 226 | #961 |
| 2019 | Girls | 15 | #7,342 |
| 2019 | Boys | 227 | #945 |
| 2018 | Girls | 12 | #8,617 |
| 2018 | Boys | 184 | #1,077 |
| 2017 | Girls | 16 | #7,092 |
| 2017 | Boys | 223 | #936 |
| 2016 | Girls | 11 | #9,411 |
| 2016 | Boys | 214 | #963 |
| 2015 | Girls | 10 | #10,148 |
| 2015 | Boys | 196 | #1,032 |
| 2014 | Girls | 11 | #9,517 |
| 2014 | Boys | 209 | #991 |
When Was Foster Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
264 recorded births
National rank #901
2023 · Boys
232 recorded births
National rank #966
2019 · Boys
227 recorded births
National rank #945
2020 · Boys
226 recorded births
National rank #961
Where Foster Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AL | #422 | 12 |
| LA | #426 | 11 |
| AR | #444 | 7 |
| SC | #470 | 10 |
| MS | #471 | 6 |
| UT | #473 | 9 |
| IN | #483 | 14 |
| IA | #571 | 5 |