What Does the Name Parker Mean?
Parker is a unisex name of Old English/Old French (occupational surname) origin meaning “"Park keeper, gamekeeper".”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Parker |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Old English/Old French (occupational surname) |
| Meaning | "Park keeper, gamekeeper" |
| Variants | Parkur, Parkar |
| Popularity | Popular for boys in the US and increasingly given to girls since the 2000s, making it solidly unisex though still more common for boys. |
The meaning and origin of Parker
The name Parker means “"Park keeper, gamekeeper"” and has Old English/Old French (occupational surname) origins. An occupational English surname for a park-keeper or gamekeeper, from Old French parquier/Middle English via Old French parc. Now widely used as a first name.
Variants and related names
Parker is related to several other names you may recognize: Parkur, Parkar. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Parker?
Popular for boys in the US and increasingly given to girls since the 2000s, making it solidly unisex though still more common for boys.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Parker below.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Parker mean?+
The name Parker means “"Park keeper, gamekeeper"” and is of Old English/Old French (occupational surname) origin.
What is the origin of the name Parker?+
Parker originates from Old English/Old French (occupational surname).
Is Parker a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Parker has trended in the US over time.
Parker by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press