Boy name · Old French
Archer
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: bowmanArcher is a boy's name that comes from Old French and means "bowman". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Bowman
- Origin
- Old French
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #98 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Archer
As a boy's name, Archer comes from Old French and means "bowman". It is used in English.
Archer is also a surname: the 1,027th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 33,513 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Archer on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Archer on 4 lists.
“Bowman; English. Sharp and sporty”
From Boy middle names, strong boy middle names
“Occupational name for a bowman, from Old French archier”
From Cool last names, cool last names
“Bowman; an English surname of Old French origin”
From Names that mean warrior, names that mean spear, sword or arrow
“Bowman; Old French, a job name with good aim”
From Strong boy names, strong-sounding modern boy names
How popular is Archer?
- US rank in 2025
- #98
- 3,627 babies, 2,123 per million boys
- Best rank
- #98 in 2025
- 3,627 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 31,391
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 56 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 9 per million |
| 1900s | 18 per million |
| 1910s | 29 per million |
| 1920s | 20 per million |
| 1930s | 11 per million |
| 1940s | 9 per million |
| 1950s | 6 per million |
| 1960s | 4 per million |
| 1970s | 3 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 7 per million |
| 2000s | 60 per million |
| 2010s | 610 per million |
| 2020s | 1,695 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #263 | #254 | #240 | #206 | #160 | #139 | #126 | #129 | #115 | #98 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Archer
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Middle names for Archer
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old French
- BellamyBeautiful friend (Old French, unisex)
- GrantGreat, large (Old French, boy)
- LyleIsland (Old French, boy)
- WallaceForeigner, Welshman (Old French, boy)
- AlgernonHaving a mustache (Old French, boy)
- BaileySteward, bailiff (Old French, unisex)
- CorbinRaven (Old French, boy)
- CurtisCourteous (Old French, boy)
- DarrellFrom Airelle, a place in Normandy (Old French, boy)
- FletcherArrow maker (Old French, boy)
Archer: common questions
What does the name Archer mean?
Archer comes from Old French and means "bowman".
Is Archer a boy or girl name?
Archer is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 27 girls and 3,627 boys in the US were named Archer, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Archer come from?
Archer comes from Old French and means "bowman". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Archer?
Archer ranked #98 in the US in 2025, with 3,627 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Archer?
Names spelled like Archer include Archie, Arthur and Asher.
What middle names go with Archer?
Middle names that flow well with Archer include Ford, Isaac, Knox, Levi and Luke. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.