Foster

Foster - A very unique male name

Foster appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #492. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Foster and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Foster? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Foster. The baby boy name Foster was given to 217 baby boys in 2025, ranking #902 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,757 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Foster peaked in popularity 108 years ago in 1918 on position 401.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Foster, 1-5?

Foster is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Foster is currently topping the baby name charts in Alabama at position #432 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,888.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Foster is where you live.

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Foster origin and meaning

English surname

Transferred surname — its own origin is disputed, variously linked to 'forester' and to an Old English word for a foster-parent or feeder

Foster began as an English surname and has been used as a first name since the earliest American records, always at low levels. It is now at its highest point ever, in 2025, as occupational and surname names flourish. The surname itself has more than one plausible source, so Foster the first name is honest only as a surname transfer. Foster care gives the word an additional, everyday meaning every listener knows.

Origin uncertain

Foster is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Foster, pop culture references for the name Foster and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Foster

We've found the following names that sound similar to Foster, sorted by popularity.

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Foster

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Foster a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Foster?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

FOSS-ter · /ˈfɔːstər/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Parents hear it as sturdy and warm — a surname name with a nurturing word inside it.

Worth knowing

• 'Foster care' and 'foster child' are the dominant associations of the word — be sure you are comfortable with them.