Sumner
Primarily a boy's name of Old French origin with 2,427 recorded births. Also given to 212 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname originating as an occupation for a summoner in court.
Sumner is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French origin, from the Middle English occupational surname sumner, a court official who summoned people to appear before courts, from the Latin summonere (to summon), meaning 'summoner' or 'one who summons.'
With over 2,425 recorded births, Sumner has the distinguished quality of an occupational surname used as a given name. The name is most prominently associated with Charles Sumner (1811–1874), the fiercely anti-slavery U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who was beaten unconscious on the floor of the Senate in 1856 by a pro-slavery Congressman — his empty chair became a symbol of the abolition movement. Gordon Sumner adopted 'Sting' as his stage name; his real last name is Sumner.
EtymologyShow more
Though Sumner dates back to 1880 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Old French classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Sumner’s 2,427 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Sumner was #3840 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6762, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 61 | #7202 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 125 | #6945 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 170 | #5143 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 200 | #3720 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 70 | #5058 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 46 | #4387 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 67 | #3329 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 122 | #2562 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 218 | #1554 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 269 | #1401 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 570 | #913 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 339 | #965 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 50 | #1237 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 43 | #1025 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 77 | #828 | — |
The Story of Sumner
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1920, Sumner is a name steeped in history. Boys named Sumner are most likely born between 1910 and 1930.
How rare is Sumner?
Only about 1 in every 276,923 babies born in 2024 was named Sumner — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 570 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Sumner by the numbers
- Would fill 51 school buses
- Meeting one Sumner per day would take 6.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(132 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | #6762 |
| 2023 | 11 | #7663 |
| 2022 | 9 | #8884 |
| 2021 | 12 | #7037 |
| 2020 | 16 | #5663 |
| 2019 | 11 | #7567 |
| 2018 | 16 | #5744 |
| 2017 | 11 | #7477 |
| 2016 | 11 | #7541 |
| 2015 | 16 | #5711 |
| 2014 | 13 | #6579 |
| 2013 | 14 | #6197 |
| 2012 | 13 | #6588 |
| 2011 | 10 | #7986 |
| 2010 | 10 | #8056 |
| 2009 | 18 | #5284 |
| 2008 | 12 | #7126 |
| 2007 | 15 | #5869 |
| 2006 | 18 | #5043 |
| 2005 | 19 | #4606 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Sumner as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Sumner has also been given to 212 girls in the U.S. since 1979.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sumner a boy's or girl's name?
When was Sumner most popular?
How popular is the name Sumner?
Can Sumner be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024