Palmer Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Palmer is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Palmer?
Palmer is spelled P-A-L-M-E-R. The name has 6 letters.
Palmer at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- The name “Palmer” historically means a pilgrim, especially one who has returned from the Holy Land bearing a palm branch as a token.
- Origin
- “Palmer” is commonly associated with medieval England and may derive from the practice of pilgrims who carried palm branches as evidence of a pilgrimage…
- Pronunciation
- PAL-mer · 2 syllables
Palmer Popularity in 2025
Rank#232
Recorded Births1,330
Rank#991
Recorded Births230
- Girls usage rose 26 places to #232 and recorded 106 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 85 places to #991 and recorded 28 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 Palmer Mean?
The name “Palmer” historically means a pilgrim, especially one who has returned from the Holy Land bearing a palm branch as a token.
Origin: “Palmer” is commonly associated with medieval England and may derive from the practice of pilgrims who carried palm branches as evidence of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
How Do You Pronounce Palmer?
PronunciationPAL-mer
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Palmer?
- History
- The surname and given name “Palmer” have historical roots linked to medieval pilgrims, with usage as a given name noted in English-speaking regions.
Palmer 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 | 1,330 | #232 |
| 2025 | Boys | 230 | #991 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,224 | #258 |
| 2024 | Boys | 202 | #1,076 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,133 | #277 |
| 2023 | Boys | 240 | #940 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,075 | #295 |
| 2022 | Boys | 200 | #1,090 |
| 2021 | Girls | 996 | #330 |
| 2021 | Boys | 222 | #987 |
| 2020 | Girls | 888 | #348 |
| 2020 | Boys | 163 | #1,177 |
| 2019 | Girls | 675 | #461 |
| 2019 | Boys | 165 | #1,171 |
| 2018 | Girls | 433 | #675 |
| 2018 | Boys | 172 | #1,122 |
| 2017 | Girls | 247 | #1,042 |
| 2017 | Boys | 179 | #1,090 |
| 2016 | Girls | 241 | #1,078 |
| 2016 | Boys | 133 | #1,339 |
| 2015 | Girls | 177 | #1,337 |
| 2015 | Boys | 137 | #1,297 |
| 2014 | Girls | 173 | #1,352 |
| 2014 | Boys | 112 | #1,456 |
When Was Palmer 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 · Girls
1,330 recorded births
National rank #232
2024 · Girls
1,224 recorded births
National rank #258
2023 · Girls
1,133 recorded births
National rank #277
2022 · Girls
1,075 recorded births
National rank #295
Where Palmer 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 Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ND | #72 | 12 |
| NE | #95 | 21 |
| IA | #96 | 31 |
| SD | #97 | 10 |
| MS | #99 | 22 |
| OK | #118 | 30 |
| GA | #123 | 78 |
| TN | #125 | 59 |