National Parker Day – April 6, 2027

History of National Parker Day

Parker comes from the Old French name ‘parchier,’ meaning ‘keeper of the park.’ A parchier was an official in charge of looking after the large hunting parks or preserves owned by a landowner, king, or member of the nobility. The position of a parchier at the time was a lofty one. In medieval England, Parker also served as a nickname for gamekeepers.

The name ‘Parker’ had several spelling variations dating back to the Middle Ages, including Parkers, Parkeres, Parker, and so on. Recently, Parker has transitioned to a first name, becoming gender-neutral. It was one of the first established names in the U.S., arriving with the settlers in the 17th century. Though it is considered a gender-neutral name, more boys are called Parker than girls. However, the popularity of Parker as a female name has increased in recent years.

In 2015, Parker reached its highest level of popularity as a male name, ranking 72 according to the data provided by the Social Security Administration. That year, the name accounted for 5,414 births in the U.S. In 2000, Parker ranked 869 as a female name, climbing to 759 in the following year. Since then, it has continually increased in popularity. In 2021, Parker reached its highest level of popularity as a female name, ranking 115 and accounting for 2,406 births.