Palmer
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Palmer
With a soft sound, a preppy feel, and a unisex style, Palmer is a last name that's been climbing up the charts for girls in the US. Having entered the Top 1000 in 2018, more recent stats place it in the Top 300. More than four times as many girls received the name than boys in 2023, though Palmer is a name on the rise all round.
Palmer for girls#232 US
An English surname that derives from the Latinpalma, the literal meaning of the name is "one who carries the palm (trees)". On a more symbolic level, it means "pilgrim", because Christian Pilgrims traditionally brought palms with them when they visited the Holy Land. Alternatively, it is linked to Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, when new palms are brought to churches so the old ones may be burnt in time for Ash Wednesday.
Palmer might work then for Christian parents wanting a modern sounding name that still reflects their faith, but it could also make a very modern honor name for grandma Pamela. Or, given its long history as a last name and its contemporary style, it could work for anyone who likes it, or for those looking for an alternative to Piper or Harper.
Palmer for boys#995 US
Palmer is a name that derives from the fact that pilgrims often carried palms, thus the double meaning. It's a fresher sounding twist other surname style names, such as Spencer, Carter, Porter and Parker.
Despite its long history as a boy's name, Palmer has recently been more successful on the US girls' charts, where it is solidly within the Top 300. Nevertheless, Palmer did make an appearance on the US Top 1000 names for boys in 2023, solidifying it as a potential choice for any gender.
Pronounced PAWL-mer.
As of October 2026, Palmer ranked #232 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #1000.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,355 | 173 | #1,464 | 112 |
| 2015 | #1,346 | 177 | #1,301 | 137 |
| 2016 | #1,080 | 241 | #1,345 | 133 |
| 2017 | #1,044 | 247 | #1,094 | 179 |
| 2018 | #675 | 433 | #1,124 | 172 |
| 2019 | #461 | 675 | #1,175 | 165 |
| 2020 | #348 | 888 | #1,187 | 163 |
| 2021 | #330 | 996 | #989 | 222 |
| 2022 | #294 | 1,075 | #1,090 | 200 |
| 2023 | #277 | 1,132 | #944 | 240 |
| 2024 | #258 | 1,221 | #1,076 | 202 |
| 2025 | #232 | 1,330 | #995 | 230 |
World rankings
Palmer for girls
Palmer for boys
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Palmer on lists
Famous Palmers
- Palmer Corrine (b. 2017)Girl
daughter of Cameran Eubanks and Jason Wimberly.
- Palmer Edvind LeeBoy
birth name of Gregg Palmer, American actor
- Palmer CoxBoy
Canadian illustrator and author
- Palmer Eddy PierceBoy
U.S. WWI general
- H. Palmer HallBoy
American poet
- Palmer C. HaydenBoy
American painter
- Palmer Freeman LuckeyBoy
American founder of Oculus VR
- Palmer Cosslett PutnamBoy
American wind,power engineer
- (William) Palmer PyleBoy
American NFL player
- Grady Palmer Wright (b. 2020)Boy
son of American soccer player Arin Gilliland Wright
Palmer in pop culture
- Palmer DodgeGirl
character in film "Just Go with It"
- Laura PalmerGirl
character on TV's Twin Peaks
- Palmer JossBoy
character in film "Contact"
- Palmer CortlandtBoy
character on American TV soap "All My Children"
- PalmerBoy
character in "The Thing" series
Variations & nicknames
- PallmerBoy
- PalmarBoy
- PalmerstonBoy