Walker first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Walker has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Walker

One who walks or journeys, representing mobility or travel.

Popularity of Walker by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Walker is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Walker being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,006 male babies and 121 female babies born with the name Walker.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 121 baby girls were named Walker in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 4,006 121
2022 4,232 157
2021 2,860 123
2020 1,860 47
2019 1,635 40
2018 1,341 27
2017 1,100 19
2016 1,048 14
2015 1,010 18
2014 1,045 19
2013 840 17
2012 707 8
2011 676 10
2010 649 7
2009 589 6
2008 553 6
2007 601 8
2006 696 12
2005 803 9
2004 722 18
2003 625 13
2002 622 6
2001 629 8
2000 578 5
1999 534 8
1998 542 9
1997 536 13
1996 504 10
1995 450 10
1994 369 11
1993 255 5
1992 197 0
1991 176 5
1990 148 0
1989 128 0
1988 99 0
1987 83 0
1986 81 0
1985 87 0
1984 85 0
1983 79 0
1982 70 0
1981 60 0
1980 60 5
1979 52 0
1978 47 0
1977 71 0
1976 60 0
1975 61 0
1974 67 0

The history of the first name Walker

The given name Walker originated as an English occupational surname derived from the Old English word "wealcere," meaning "fuller" or someone who beats and thickens cloth. It eventually transitioned into a first name used for children.

The earliest recorded use of Walker as a first name dates back to the late 16th century, though it was still relatively rare at that time. One of the earliest known bearers was Walker Feylde, born around 1560 in Gloucestershire, England.

Over time, the name Walker gained popularity, particularly among Puritan and Quaker communities who favored virtue names and occupational surnames as first names. Notable historical figures with the first name Walker include Walker Brooke (1813-1869), an American politician and lawyer from Virginia, and Walker Percy (1916-1990), an American novelist and essayist known for his works exploring existential themes.

In the 19th century, the name Walker became more widely used, often chosen for its association with strength, resilience, and industriousness. One prominent bearer was Walker Evans (1903-1975), the renowned American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work documenting the Great Depression.

Another notable figure was Walker Hancock (1901-1998), an American businessman and philanthropist who played a key role in the development of modern-day Silicon Valley. He co-founded the semi-conductor company Rheem Manufacturing and later established the Walker Hancock Engineering Building at Stanford University.

During the 20th century, the name Walker continued to be used, though it experienced a decline in popularity in some regions. One notable bearer from this period was Walker Percy (1916-1990), the American novelist and essayist previously mentioned, whose works explored themes of existentialism, faith, and the human condition.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Walker was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Walker, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Walker first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/walker-meaning-and-history/.

"Walker first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/walker-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Walker first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/walker-meaning-and-history/.

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