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The first name Turner

A boy’s name from English.

Pronounced /ˈtɝ.nɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

Meaning and origin

English origin

From Middle English Turner, Turnur, Turnure, Turnour, from Middle English turner, turnare, tornere, an occupational surname for a turner or tumbler.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

Turner last appeared in the official list in 2022, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2005, with 7 births (#2,174).

0510 1996200020052010201520202025
34
babies named Turner, 1996–2025
#4,789
rank in 2022
2005
peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Turner with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Turner at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 195 boys born in the United States were named Turner, the 1,107th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2019, when 246 were.

0150300 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
GirlsBoys
10,386
babies named Turner since 1880
#1,107
rank in 2025
2019
peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Turner in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

特納 /特纳
Tènà
Chinese
Те́рнер
Térner
Russian

Spelled Turner in Polish too.

Famous people named Turner

5 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Turner Ashby
    Confederate Army general (1828–1862)
  • William Walton
    English composer (1902–1983)
  • Tfue
    American streamer and esports player (born 1998)
  • Robert Boyd
    Anthropologist, born 1948
  • Walter Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
    English lawyer and politician (1891-1965)

More English boys’ names

Questions

What does the name Turner mean?
From Middle English Turner, Turnur, Turnure, Turnour, from Middle English turner, turnare, tornere, an occupational surname for a turner or tumbler.
What is the origin of the name Turner?
From Middle English Turner, Turnur, Turnure, Turnour, from Middle English turner, turnare, tornere, an occupational surname for a turner or tumbler.
How popular is the name Turner?
In 2022, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Turner, ranking 4,789th. Its peak was 2005, with 7 births.
Is Turner a boy's or a girl's name?
Mostly a boy's name: 96% of the 10,386 US babies named Turner since 1880 were boys.
When was Turner most popular?
2019 in the United States, when 246 babies were named Turner, its highest rank at 889th.
How do you pronounce Turner?
Turner is /ˈtɝ.nɚ/, 2 syllables.
Is Turner also a surname?
Yes. Turner is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.