Anker
A Scandinavian name meaning "anchor" or "firm".
Name Census estimates that about 35 living Americans carry the first name Anker. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Anker today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Anker births was 2019 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Anker. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Anker. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
35
~ 1 in 9,792,981 Americans
Peak year
2019
8 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,433
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Anker: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Anker from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 25 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Anker remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anker by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Anker during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Anker
The name Anker is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "anko," meaning "bend" or "angle," which later evolved into the modern German word "Anker," meaning "anchor." This name likely originated among seafaring communities or those living near bodies of water, where anchors played a crucial role in maritime activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anker dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the region now known as Germany. In those times, names often reflected occupations, physical characteristics, or locations, suggesting that the name Anker may have initially been associated with individuals involved in maritime trades or those living near bodies of water.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Anker. One such figure was Anker Svensson (c. 1480-1558), a Swedish clergyman and Archbishop of Uppsala, who played a significant role in the Swedish Reformation. Another prominent bearer of the name was Anker Jørgensen (1922-2016), a Danish politician who served as the Prime Minister of Denmark from 1972 to 1973 and again from 1975 to 1982.
In the realm of art, Anker Lund (1875-1949) was a renowned Norwegian painter and illustrator, known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. Similarly, Anker Origstad (1917-2009) was a celebrated Norwegian sculptor, whose works adorned public spaces and museums across his home country.
The name Anker also found its way into literary circles, with Anker Larsen (1904-1982) being a notable Danish author and playwright. His works explored themes of social commentary and human relationships, earning him recognition within the Danish literary landscape.
While these are just a few examples, the name Anker has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural, political, and artistic spheres throughout history. Its unique origins and connection to maritime activities have contributed to its enduring presence and significance across generations.
People
Anker + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Anker as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Anker: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Anker?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 35 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Anker going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 9,792,981 US residents.
Is Anker a common name?
We classify Anker as "Very Rare". It ranks above 48.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 41 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Anker most popular?
The single biggest year for Anker was 2019, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Anker is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Anker in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Anker a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Anker in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Anker still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Anker in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Anker can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Anker as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Anker on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.