Walker Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Walker is of Old English origin, meaning 'fuller' or 'walker'. It evolved from 'wealcere' to 'walkere' in Middle English, leading to its modern form. The name is associated with industriousness and practicality, with no biblical connections. It gained popularity as a surname in the Middle Ages before becoming a given name in the 19th century. Today, it is viewed as a strong name and is borne by several notable figures.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Walker"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɔːkər/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Walker derives from the Old English term 'wealcere', which referred to a fuller or walker in cloth-making, someone who thickens cloth by walking on it in a vat.
Meaning
fuller, walker
Language Evolution
Old English: wealcere, Middle English: walkere, Modern English: Walker
Historical Usage
Walker became popular as a surname in England during the Middle Ages and later transitioned into use as a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Walk, Wallace, Walcott
Modern Popularity & Image
Walker is perceived as a strong, traditional name that conveys a sense of movement and action. It has remained consistently popular in various cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Famous People
Walker Evans, Walker Percy, Robert Walker
📊 Walker Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Walker Name Visualizations
✨ Walker Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 4,406 peak births in 2022
Geographic Spread
Popular across 49 US states, with strongest presence in South Carolina
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Walker"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Walker"
"Walker" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 567th of 7545 | 1,927 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 735th of 6773 | 1,333 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1000th of 7552 | 1,070 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1175th of 10718 | 799 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 727th of 16616 | 2,874 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 427th of 24088 | 10,064 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 188th of 23106 | 25,040 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6096th of 9107 | 28 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 19264th of 19264 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14820th of 27321 | 41 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 10514th of 35406 | 146 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2849th of 30306 | 718 |
Regional Popularity of "Walker" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
60.95% 863rd/1416 |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
17.08% 404th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
65.59% 1014th/1546 |
65.87% 1025th/1556 |
22.69% 534th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
52.76% 1175th/2227 |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
30.56% 872nd/2853 |
51.57% 1431st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
46.48% 1365th/2937 |
- |
34.17% 1202nd/3518 |
44.68% 1807th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
20.76% 765th/3685 |
26.79% 1199th/4475 |
12.82% 666th/5194 |
11.57% 731st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.49% 435th/4582 |
14.50% 749th/5164 |
4.53% 331st/7313 |
7.09% 529th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
4.14% 165th/3984 |
7.13% 320th/4487 |
2.15% 147th/6822 |
3.87% 243rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Walker" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
94.65% 6922nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
56.93% 2268th/3984 |
84.85% 3807th/4487 |
36.97% 2522nd/6822 |
56.39% 3539th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Walker"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Walker" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Walker" in the United States
The name Walker is most popular in South Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Walker has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Walker' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 567th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 735th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1000th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1175th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 727th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 427th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 188th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6096th out of 9107 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 19264th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14820th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10514th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2849th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Walker' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.