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The short answer
Porter is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an occupational English surname meaning ‘doorkeeper’, ultimately from Old French porte ‘door’, from Latin porta." It ranked #560 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an occupational English surname meaning ‘doorkeeper’, ultimately from Old French porte ‘door’, from Latin porta. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Porter ranked #560 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #560 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Porter in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Porter mean?
Porter means "doorkeeper", according to Behind the Name.
Is Porter a popular name?
Porter ranked #560 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Porter a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Porter appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Porter — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
