Given name & surname
Summer
“refers to the season; born in summer”
Summer is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “refers to the season; born in summer.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “refers to the season; born in summer.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1918. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Summer through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 91,575
- 254 boys · 91,321 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 2,558 babies
- 2025
- 1,973
- #152 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +23%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,973 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 152 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 22.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,558 in 1998. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (255). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 70,693 as a first name in 2020; 2,624 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Summer’s family of names
In English usage, Summer as a surname shares a linguistic root with the German form Sommer. Summer has a related form in Somer. Summer has a related form in Sommer.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Summer
- Summer GlauAmerican actressborn 1981
- Summer McIntoshCanadian swimmer (2006-)
- Summer WalkerAmerican R&B singerborn 1996
- Summer Bishilactressborn 1988
- Summer PhoenixAmerican actressborn 1978
- Summer SandersAmerican sports commentator, reporter, television personality, actress and former competition swimmerborn 1972
- Summer AlticeAmerican fashion model and actressborn 1979
- Summer LeeAmerican politician (born 1987)
- Summer BritcherAmerican lugerborn 1994
Characters named Summer: Summer Smith (Rick and Morty), Summer Roberts (fictional human).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Summer, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Autumn
“born in the fall”
>99% girls
Raven
Raven is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “resembling the black bird; a dark and mysterious beauty” (English) and “resembling the blackbird; a dark and mysterious man” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
5% boys · 95% girls
Star
“a celestial body” · “a celestial body; as bright as a star”
4% boys · 96% girls
Marley
“from the meadow near the lake”
13% boys · 87% girls
Whitley
“from the white meadow”
15% boys · 85% girls
Marlee
“of the marshy meadow”
2% boys · 98% girls
September
“born in the month of September”
>99% girls
Coral
Coral is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “resembling the semiprecious sea growth; from the reef.”
>99% girls