Foster

At a Glance: Name: Foster – Meaning: Forester — one who worked in or managed woodland; the surname is a reduced form of Forster. An alternate theory derives it from Old French forcetier, "scissor-maker." – Origin: English – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: FOS-ter

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Foster (pronounced FOS-ter) is an English name that traces back to "forester" — someone who worked in or managed woodland — with an alternate theory tracing it to an Old French word for scissor-maker. You may see it explained as meaning "one who fosters or nurtures," but that's just a coincidental resemblance to the verb "to foster"; it isn't where the name actually comes from. It's used as a neutral name today.

Meaning & Origin of Foster

Meaning: Forester — one who worked in or managed woodland; the surname is a reduced form of forster. an alternate theory derives it from old french forcetier, "scissor-maker.".

Origin: English.

A common claim: Often assumed to mean "one who fosters or nurtures," evoking foster care and foster parents. Actually: That's a coincidental resemblance, not the actual origin — Foster derives from "forester" (or possibly an Old French word for scissor-maker), unrelated to the verb "to foster."

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Foster

Phonetic: FOS-ter   IPA: /ˈfɔːstər/

Popularity of Foster

Foster hit its highest point in 1896, ranking #280 with 43 babies given the name that year; by 2024 it had fallen to #1075, with 202 babies recorded, across Social Security data spanning 1880 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Foster Name Art

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Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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FAQ

What does the name Foster mean?

Forester — one who worked in or managed woodland; the surname is a reduced form of forster. an alternate theory derives it from old french forcetier, “scissor-maker.”. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Foster)

How do you pronounce Foster?

Foster is pronounced FOS-ter (IPA: /ˈfɔːstər/).

Is Foster a popular name right now?

Foster peaked at #280 in 1896 and is ranked #1075 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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