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Palmer

♀ Girl

Pronounced PAHM-er /ˈpɑːmər/High

Meaning: Pilgrim who carried a palm branch on return from the Holy LandHigh

In 30 seconds: A polished English occupational name for a pilgrim who carried a palm branch from the Holy Land. Palmer is sleek and modern, increasingly popular for girls — the kind of surname name that feels effortlessly cool.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningPilgrim who carried a palm branch on return from the Holy Land
U.S. rank (2025)#232 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,330 girls (0.08% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,385

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519082025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Palmer is an English occupational surname derived from palmere (Middle English) or palomero (Old French), denoting a pilgrim who had been to the Holy Land and returned carrying a palm branch. Pilgrimages to Jerusalem were enormously important in medieval Christianity, and the palm-bearing pilgrim was a recognised figure in art, literature, and society.

As a given name, Palmer has been used for both sexes, but its contemporary popularity is strongest as a girls' name in the United States, where it fits the wider fashion for polished, single-surname names like Harper, Piper, and Sloane. It ranks in the top 500 for girls.

Did you know? In medieval England, a palmer was a professional pilgrim who had visited Jerusalem and carried a palm frond as proof — they were so numerous that the occupation became a hereditary surname.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Palmer — etymology notesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

PalmaPalomar

Nicknames

PalPalmy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Arnold Palmer (1929–2016)
    Legendary American professional golfer, one of the greatest in the sport's history.

If you like Palmer…

Harper— English surname name with the same sleek, rising-for-girls energy
Piper— occupational surname name with the same breezy, two-syllable cool
Sloane— polished one-syllable surname name with the same sophisticated feel
Emerson— strong surname name whose popularity for girls mirrors Palmer's

Frequently Asked

What does the name Palmer mean?

Palmer is an English occupational surname for a medieval pilgrim who carried a palm branch on returning from the Holy Land.

How do you pronounce Palmer?

It is said PAHM-er /ˈpɑːmər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Palmer a boy or girl name?

Palmer is increasingly used as a girls' name in the U.S., though it has male precedent as a surname.

How popular is Palmer?

Palmer has been rising for girls in the U.S., entering the top 500 in the mid-2020s.