Holding steady.
Popularity of Lister since 1914
Babies named Lister per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1928, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lister's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 32 |
| 1920s | 56 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lister is a rare boys' given name that originated as an English occupational surname for a dyer of cloth. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1914, with one birth that year, marking its peak year. The name has remained stable in rarity, with no recorded births in most recent decades. As a surname, it is more common, notably associated with the bacteriologist Joseph Lister, after whom Listerine is named. Its simplicity and strong sound may appeal to parents seeking an uncommon name with a clear occupational heritage.
Lister derives from the Middle English 'lister' or 'lyster', an occupational term for a dyer of cloth, from the Old French 'lister' (to dye). The surname was first recorded in the 13th century and became established as a given name in the 20th century, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Lyster
Sibling names for Lister
Names that share Lister's style, for a brother or sister.
