Unisex name · Old French
Spencer
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: steward, dispenserSpencer is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old French and means "steward, dispenser". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Steward, dispenser
- Origin
- Old French
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #1025 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Spencer
As a boy's name, Spencer comes from Old French and means "steward, dispenser". It is used in English.
As a gender-neutral name, Spencer comes from Old French and means "steward, dispenser". It is used in English.
Spencer is also a surname: the 208th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 135,510 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Spencer on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Spencer on 3 lists.
“Dispenser of provisions; English. Polished surname”
From Boy middle names, surname middle names for boys
“A dispenser who managed a lord's household supplies”
From Cool last names, cool occupational last names
“Steward, dispenser; Old French, a household job title”
From Gender neutral names, gender-neutral surname names
How popular is Spencer?
In 2025, 245 girls and 908 boys in the US were named Spencer.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,025
- 245 babies, 152 per million girls
- Best rank
- #981 in 2017
- 267 babies that year
- Babies since 1922
- At least 5,707
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 1 per million |
| 1930s | 1 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 1 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 4 per million |
| 1980s | 20 per million |
| 1990s | 73 per million |
| 2000s | 33 per million |
| 2010s | 110 per million |
| 2020s | 146 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,067 | #981 | #1,043 | #1,058 | #1,053 | #1,050 | #1,088 | #1,036 | #1,119 | #1,025 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #360
- 908 babies, 532 per million boys
- Best rank
- #84 in 1998
- 4,619 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 123,931
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 286 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 271 per million |
| 1900s | 292 per million |
| 1910s | 206 per million |
| 1920s | 169 per million |
| 1930s | 169 per million |
| 1940s | 204 per million |
| 1950s | 156 per million |
| 1960s | 229 per million |
| 1970s | 418 per million |
| 1980s | 823 per million |
| 1990s | 1,960 per million |
| 2000s | 1,375 per million |
| 2010s | 735 per million |
| 2020s | 554 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #267 | #292 | #307 | #321 | #317 | #315 | #338 | #362 | #384 | #360 |
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 Spencer
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- SenderDefending men (Yiddish, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Spencer
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old French
- BellamyBeautiful friend (Old French, unisex)
- BlancheWhite, fair (Old French, girl)
- EsméEsteemed, loved (Old French, girl)
- GrantGreat, large (Old French, boy)
- LyleIsland (Old French, boy)
- WallaceForeigner, Welshman (Old French, boy)
- AlgernonHaving a mustache (Old French, boy)
- AmyBeloved (Old French, girl)
- ArcherBowman (Old French, boy)
- CorbinRaven (Old French, boy)
Spencer: common questions
What does the name Spencer mean?
Spencer comes from Old French and means "steward, dispenser". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.
Is Spencer a boy or girl name?
Spencer is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 245 girls and 908 boys in the US were named Spencer, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Spencer come from?
Spencer comes from Old French and means "steward, dispenser". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Spencer?
Spencer ranked #1,025 in the US in 2025, with 245 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Spencer?
Names spelled like Spencer include Sender.
What middle names go with Spencer?
Middle names that flow well with Spencer include Clark, Elton, Eve, Ezra and Hope. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.