Foster

English occupational name

"forester"

Foster Origin and Meaning

The name Foster is a boy's name of English origin meaning "forester".

Foster is one commonly heard last name that makes a fine first. The word foster means "to nourish" — as in "fostering hope", or "fostering a relationship". The only problem with Foster might be its association with "foster child."

There are numerous notable last-named Fosters, including composer Stephen, actresses Jodie and Sutton, architect Norman, and comic strip artist Hal, creator of "Prince Valiant."

Foster Rank in US Top 1000

# 967 in the US

Foster Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 716 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Foster

• 967 US 2023
• 716 Nameberry 2025
• 75 Unique 2024
• 593 Future 2028

20 Names Similar to Foster

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Foster.

• Booker
• Boone
• Shepherd
• Cal
• Ford
• Beck
• Mack
• Bridger
• Crosby
• Penn
• Thatcher
• Banks
• Shepard
• Fisher
• Wylie
• Van
• Murphy
• Campbell
• Bo
• Porter

Famous People Named Foster

• Foster Brooks American actor/comedian
• Foster William Hewitt Canadian sportscaster
• Foster Lonnie Campbell Jr., American politician
• Harry Foster Chapin American singer/songwriter
• Norman Foster Ramsey Jr. winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics
• Parker Foster Aiken son of singer and politician Clay Aiken
• Stephen Collins Foster "the father of American music," American songwriter
• Ben Foster American actor
• Hunter and Sutton Foster American actor siblings
• Jodie Foster American actress.

The name Foster in Pop Culture

• "The Fosters " TV series
• Foster Lambert character in horror movie "Insidious"
• "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends " animated series
• "Ellen Foster " novel by Kaye Gibbons and movie
• Foster the People American alternative band
• Foster's Australian lager beer
• Foster dog on soap "General Hospital"
• Court Foster character in the 1991 movie "The Man in the Moon"
• Rita Foster character in 2002 movie "Cypher"
• Robert Foster main character in the adventure game "Beneath a Steel Sky"
• Michael Foster character in 2013 movie "The Call"
• Sophie Elizabeth Foster character in "Keeper of the Lost Cities" by Shannon Messenger
• Foster Blake character in Elizabeth Enright's children's novel "Gone,Away Lake"