What does Parker mean?
An English occupational surname, “keeper of the park.”
What does Sawyer mean?
An English occupational surname, “one who saws wood.”
Parker vs Sawyer
Which is more popular?
Parker is more popular than Sawyer today: about 3,477 US babies were given the name Parker in 2025, compared with 2,941 named Sawyer.
| Parker | Sawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Park keeper | Woodcutter |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | PAR-ker | SOY-er |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1913 |
| Peak year | 2014 (5,720) | 2015 (4,272) |
| In 2025 | 3,477 | 2,941 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Parker
Sawyer
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Parker | Sawyer |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 22,420 | 17,914 |
| 2010s | 49,234 | 34,031 |
| 2000s | 35,729 | 10,153 |
| 1990s | 16,234 | 3,453 |
| 1980s | 2,800 | 275 |
| 1970s | 632 | 5 |
| 1960s | 524 | 0 |
| 1950s | 568 | 0 |
| 1940s | 578 | 0 |
| 1930s | 559 | 0 |
| 1920s | 728 | 0 |
| 1910s | 546 | 7 |
| 1900s | 143 | 0 |
| 1890s | 134 | 0 |
| 1880s | 112 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Parker or Sawyer more popular?
Parker is more popular than Sawyer today: about 3,477 US babies were given the name Parker in 2025, compared with 2,941 named Sawyer.
What is the difference between Parker and Sawyer?
Parker means Park keeper (English origin), while Sawyer means Woodcutter (English origin).
Which name is older, Parker or Sawyer?
In US records, Parker first appears in 1880 and Sawyer in 1913, so Parker has the longer recorded history.