At a glance
- In short
- Proctor is a strong and distinctive name for a baby boy, with roots in the Middle English word "proketour," meaning "steward" or "agent."
- U.S. rank 2025
- Not in the 2025 data · last seen 1962 (#4,033)
- Babies in 1962
- 5 (<0.01% of boys)
- Peak
- #971 in 1884
- First recorded
- 1884
Meaning of Proctor
Originating from an English surname, Proctor is a strong and distinctive name for a baby boy. It has its roots in the Middle English word "proketour," meaning "steward" or "agent." The name carries connotations of responsibility and reliability, making it an excellent choice for parents who want their son to be seen as dependable and trustworthy. Proctor is pronounced as PROK-ter in American English (/ˈprɑk.tər/) and PROK-tuh in British English (/ˈprɒk.tə/). This name also has a variation: Procter. Over the years, the popularity of the name Proctor has fluctuated in the United States. It reached its peak in 1927 when it ranked 15th most popular, but it still remains a unique choice for parents seeking an uncommon yet meaningful name for their little one.
How to pronounce Proctor
American English
- Pronounced PROK-ter /ˈprɑk.tər/
British English
- Pronounced PROK-tuh /ˈprɒk.tə/
Popularity of Proctor in the U.S.
Proctor was last recorded in the U.S. in 1962, ranked #4,033 with 5 babies. It peaked at #971 in 1884. It first appears in the records in 1884.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1884–1962 32 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 5 | 4,033 | back (not recorded in 1961) |
| 1960 | 5 | 4,038 | ▼ 50 |
| 1959 | 5 | 3,988 | back (not recorded in 1957–1958) |
| 1956 | 6 | 3,535 | back (not recorded in 1954–1955) |
| 1953 | 6 | 3,425 | back (not recorded in 1948–1952) |
| 1947 | 5 | 3,733 | back (not recorded in 1946) |
| 1945 | 5 | 3,338 | ▲ 92 |
| 1944 | 5 | 3,430 | back (not recorded in 1936–1943) |
| 1935 | 9 | 2,529 | ▲ 444 |
| 1934 | 7 | 2,973 | back (not recorded in 1933) |
| 1932 | 7 | 3,092 | ▼ 621 |
| 1931 | 10 | 2,471 | ▲ 551 |
| 1930 | 8 | 3,022 | back (not recorded in 1929) |
| 1928 | 7 | 3,357 | ▼ 1,236 |
| 1927 | 15 | 2,121 | ▲ 1,018 |
| 1926 | 8 | 3,139 | ▼ 203 |
| 1925 | 9 | 2,936 | ▼ 463 |
| 1924 | 12 | 2,473 | ▲ 1,349 |
| 1923 | 6 | 3,822 | ▼ 1,475 |
| 1922 | 13 | 2,347 | ▲ 1,522 |
| 1921 | 6 | 3,869 | ▼ 1,267 |
| 1920 | 11 | 2,602 | ▲ 275 |
| 1919 | 9 | 2,877 | ▼ 479 |
| 1918 | 12 | 2,398 | ▼ 210 |
| 1917 | 13 | 2,188 | ▲ 542 |
| 1916 | 9 | 2,730 | ▼ 272 |
| 1915 | 10 | 2,458 | ▲ 806 |
| 1914 | 5 | 3,264 | back (not recorded in 1913) |
| 1912 | 6 | 2,269 | back (not recorded in 1911) |
| 1910 | 5 | 1,589 | back (not recorded in 1889–1909) |
| 1888 | 5 | 1,031 | back (not recorded in 1885–1887) |
| 1884 | 5 | 971 | new |
Notable people named Proctor
- Proctor Knott was an American Thoroughbred racehorse named after Kentucky Governor J. Proctor Knott.