Palmer
Gender-neutral name · English · French
Meaningpilgrim · English
- US rank
- #232
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #232 in 2025
1,330 babies were named Palmer in the US in 2025. It has climbed 116 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1908–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Palmer you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,208 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Palmer, 1,330 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Palmer would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPalmer has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Palmers, and counting.
- Best yearPalmer is at its all-time high right now: #232 in 2025.
- Then vs nowPalmer is 212× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 256,410 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 1,208.
- TrendPalmer has climbed 116 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #232. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedPalmer is most popular in North Dakota, where it ranks #72, followed by Nebraska (#95) and Iowa (#96). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- Boy or girlPalmer is given to both boys and girls: 85% of the 1,560 babies named Palmer in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Palmer means “pilgrim”. Our records link it to English and French roots.
About the name Palmer
Palmer is a gender-neutral name of English and French origin meaning “pilgrim”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-mer”. US birth records list Palmer for girls from 1908 to 2025, in 71 of those 118 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #232 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #232, with 1,330 babies. Of the 1,560 US babies named Palmer in 2025, 85% were girls and 15% were boys.
Origin:English namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 10 | 95,694 girls |
| 1910s | 5.9 | 169,779 girls |
| 1920s | 4.5 | 224,215 girls |
| 1930s | 1.9 | 529,101 girls |
| 1940s | 1.9 | 534,759 girls |
| 1950s | 2.4 | 421,941 girls |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 476,190 girls |
| 1980s | 1.0 | 961,538 girls |
| 1990s | 3.4 | 291,545 girls |
| 2000s | 6.9 | 145,138 girls |
| 2010s | 133 | 7,514 girls |
| 2020s | 683 | 1,463 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 87 | 11,500 boys |
| 1890s | 125 | 8,007 boys |
| 1900s | 166 | 6,014 boys |
| 1910s | 154 | 6,481 boys |
| 1920s | 118 | 8,495 boys |
| 1930s | 77 | 13,012 boys |
| 1940s | 44 | 22,784 boys |
| 1950s | 22 | 46,382 boys |
| 1960s | 16 | 61,576 boys |
| 1970s | 11 | 88,028 boys |
| 1980s | 14 | 73,260 boys |
| 1990s | 25 | 39,667 boys |
| 2000s | 40 | 25,038 boys |
| 2010s | 70 | 14,358 boys |
| 2020s | 121 | 8,242 boys |
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Palmer
What does the name Palmer mean?
Palmer means “pilgrim” in English.
What is the origin of the name Palmer?
Palmer has English, French roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Palmer a boy or girl name?
Both. Palmer is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 85% of US babies named Palmer were girls.
How popular is the name Palmer?
Palmer ranked #232 for US girls in 2025, given to 1,330 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#232).