A FIELD REPORT ON THE NAME
Porter
occupational · malt-toned · structured
Origin & Meaning
AI-WrittenDerived from the Old French portier for a gatekeeper and porteour for a carrier of loads, both tracing back to Latin roots. The word established itself as an occupational surname in medieval England. American parents began using it as a first name in the nineteenth century, though its modern spike arrived alongside the broader turn toward trade-based surnames ending in -er.
Fig. 1 — Births per annum, 1880–2025
SSA Data 1880 peak: 921 souls, A.D. 2015 2025
2025: 599 born, falling ↘
Estimated Age
17 yrs
Most Porters were born around 2015 — learned to read on a touchscreen.
Peak Reign
2015
№375 that year
Generation
Gen Alpha, 54%
then Gen Z 36% · Boomer 3%
Rarity
Top 2000 all-time
≈22K ever born · now falling
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Estimates from SSA birth records and standard survival rates. Immigration and name changes not counted.
Porter grew up with
SSA DataCocomelon·Alexa as a household member·Zoom kindergarten
Data vs. Humans
What the data says
SSA Data
SSA: Porter peaked in 2015.
Estimated average age: 17.
What people think
Opinion LedgerAwaiting human data — cast the first votes.
Porter sounds like someone born in —
Fig. 2 — Style Coordinates
AI Seed · Votes Override at n=30 Vintage Modern
Formal Casual
Soft Strong
Cast your vote No account · one tap
In your mind, Porter sounds more like a —
Voting opens when the ledger goes live. No account. 24h cooldown per question.
Public Opinion Ledger
Ledger Opens Soon
The public has not yet weighed in on Porter. Early ballots carry the most weight.
* Early ballots — fewer than 30 cast so far. The ledger settles at 30.
First Impressions
AI-WrittenThe name reads on paper like a station attendant from a black-and-white newsreel. In reality, the person walking through the door was probably born during the Obama administration. Over half of all living Porters belong to Generation Alpha. It suggests canvas field jackets, reinforced stitching, and someone who knows the exact weight limit of a carry-on bag.
Field Notes
AI-WrittenField Note 01
The name was first recorded in 1880 but waited until 2015 to reach its peak of 921 births.
Field Note 02
Despite its antique sound, ninety percent of living bearers belong to Generation Z or Generation Alpha.
Field Note 03
The count has drifted downward since its mid-2010s high, logging fewer than 600 births in 2025.
Notable Porters
AI-WrittenPorter Wagonercountry music singer and television host, b. 1927
Porter Gosspolitician and intelligence official, b. 1938
Ephemera — If Porter were a…
AI-WrittenCity
Duluth, Minnesota
Color
Dark Amber
Object
Heavyweight canvas duffel
Job
Timber framer
And what of your name?