UK boy's name
Foster
A masculine given name derived from an occupational surname meaning "forester" or "woodsman".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Foster is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Foster popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2755, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 8 births.
This profile covers 93 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1999 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 88% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 92 living people in the UK are called Foster. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Foster ranked #2755 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 8 boys were registered as Foster.
- • About 92 living people in the UK are estimated to have Foster as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2755
2022
Births in 2022
7
Latest year
Peak year
2008
8 births
Estimated living
92
2026
Meaning
What does Foster mean?
The name Foster has its origins in the Old English language, deriving from the word "foestre," which means "nourisher" or "sustainer." This name was initially used as an occupational surname for those who served as foster parents or caregivers to children who were not their biological offspring.
During the Middle Ages, the practice of fostering children was common among noble families in medieval Europe. Foster children were often sent to live with other noble households to learn courtly manners, receive education, or forge alliances between families. As a result, the name Foster became associated with this tradition and gained prominence.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Foster can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as a surname in various spellings, such as "Fostere" and "Forster."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Foster:
1. Stephen Foster (1826-1864), an American songwriter known as the "Father of American Music," who composed iconic songs such as "Oh! Susanna" and "Camptown Races."
2. Sir Michael Foster (1836-1907), an English physiologist and professor at the University of Cambridge, who made significant contributions to the study of physiology and the understanding of the human body.
3. Jodie Foster (born 1962), an American actress, director, and producer, renowned for her roles in films like "The Silence of the Lambs" and "The Accused," for which she won Academy Awards.
4. Norman Foster (born 1935), a prominent British architect known for his innovative and sustainable designs, including the Gherkin in London and the Millau Viaduct in France.
5. Vince Foster (1945-1993), an American lawyer and Deputy White House Counsel during the Clinton administration, whose tragic death sparked numerous investigations and conspiracy theories.
While the name Foster originated as an occupational surname, it has since transcended its initial meaning and has become a popular given name in its own right, reflecting the nurturing and protective qualities associated with its etymology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Foster over time
The chart below shows babies named Foster registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Foster, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2022, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Foster by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Foster was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3302 | 11 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3737 | 41 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2805 | 38 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Foster
- Freddie 46,945
- Finley 42,410
- Frederick 19,866
- Finlay 17,879
- Frankie 17,528
- Finn 14,413
- Felix 14,361
- Fraser 6,470
- Flynn 6,170
- Frank 5,992
- Filip 5,876
- Francis 5,744
FAQ
Foster: questions and answers
How popular is the name Foster in the UK right now?
In 2022, Foster was ranked #2755 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Foster most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 8 babies registered as Foster in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Foster?
A masculine given name derived from an occupational surname meaning "forester" or "woodsman".
How many people are called Foster in the UK?
A total of 93 babies have been registered as Foster across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.