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Porter

♀ Girl

Pronounced POR-ter /ˈpɔːr.tər/High

Meaning: doorkeeper, gatekeeperMedium

In 30 seconds: Porter is an Old French occupational surname meaning doorkeeper or gatekeeper, increasingly used as a given name for girls. A strong two-syllable name with a professional character.

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Origin HighOld French, English

Meaningdoorkeeper, gatekeeper

U.S. rank (2025)#2578 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births68 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 992

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Porter is an English occupational surname from Old French portier meaning doorkeeper or gatekeeper. It entered English with the Norman Conquest and became a common surname.

Porter has been growing as a given name for both boys and girls in the 21st century.

Did you know? A porter in medieval castles was a trusted guardian of the gate — the person who controlled access to the lord's domain — carrying this name's tradition of trusted authority.

Overall data confidence 82%

Oxford Dictionary of Surnames — reference for PorterBehind the Name: Porter — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data

Variations

PortPortia

Nicknames

PortPortie

Famous Bearers

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If you like Porter…

Piper— occupational surname name used for girls

Harper— occupational surname name used for girls

Carter— similar professional surname name for girls

Sloane— similar professional surname name for girls

Explore names like Porter

By thememodern surname-name two-syllable occupational old-french

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Frequently Asked

What does Porter mean?

Porter means doorkeeper or gatekeeper, from Old French portier.

How do you pronounce Porter?

Porter is pronounced POR-ter (/ˈpɔːr.tər/), with two syllables.

Is Porter a girl's name?

Porter is used for both boys and girls; it is growing as a feminine name.

How popular is the name Porter?

Porter has been growing as a given name for both boys and girls in the 21st century.