How Many People Are Named Foster?
Complete statistics for the name Foster: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Foster means 'farmer' and has roots in Old English. That's just 7,238 people in the US today, making up 1 in 45,595 Americans. It's a rising name, peaking in 2023 with 257 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 11 is often associated with intuition and spiritual insight.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 62All 13,114 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 2023Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Foster Through the Generations
Foster stands out as a name that's seen a resurgence in recent years, with its peak occurring in 2023. The majority of those named Foster are over 60, accounting for 55% of the total, which gives the name an older demographic skew. With 4,533 under-30s, 1,393 aged 30-60, and 7,188 over 60, it's clear that while the name is growing in popularity among younger generations, it still retains a strong presence among older adults.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Foster
The given name Foster is a variation of the surname Forster, meaning one who 'works in the forest'. It may also derive from the French forcetier, meaning 'maker of scissors'. It is both a given name and a surname.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Foster's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Foster
How Many People Have the Name Foster?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 218,824 people in the United States currently share the name Foster. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,515 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Foster a Common or Rare Name?
Foster is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Foster Mean?
Foster means "farmer" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Foster in SSA data, approximately 97% are male and 3% are female.
When Was Foster Most Popular?
The name Foster reached peak popularity in 2023, with 257 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Foster?
Approximately 218,824 people named Foster live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 218,824. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,515 Americans.
Is Foster a rare name?
Foster is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,515 Americans has this name.
What does the name Foster mean?
Foster means "farmer" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Foster more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 97% of people named Foster are male and 3% are female.
When was Foster most popular?
Foster peaked in 2023 with 257 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.