How to say it
ARCH · er
ˈɑr.tʃɚ
Masculine
Archer
Bowman
What it means
English occupational surname for an archer or bowman, from the Old French archer. A medieval profession that became a surname that became a first name.
Archer is an English occupational surname for an archer (bowman), from the Old French archer. Archery was central to medieval English warfare, Crécy and Agincourt were won by English longbows, so the surname was common. The jump to first name is modern, accelerating with the 2009 Adam Reed animated series Archer and the broader masculine surname-first wave. It entered the US top 200 in 2018. Single short forms aren't common; most Archers go full.
How to spell Archer
Spelled Archer. A · r · c · h · e · r — 6 letters total.
Popularity over time
peaked at #98 in 2025, currently #98 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
FX's Archer (2009-2023) made the name a recognizable modern American first name, even though Sterling Archer himself is a parody spy.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Sterling Archer Lead character of the FX animated series Archer
- Jeffrey Archer English novelist and Conservative politician, Kane and Abel
Names with the same feeling
See Archer from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Archer mean?
- English occupational surname for an archer or bowman, from the Old French archer. A medieval profession that became a surname that became a first name.
- What does Archer mean in Old French?
- In Old French, Archer means "Bowman." Archer is an English occupational surname for an archer (bowman), from the Old French archer. Archery was central to medieval English warfare, Crécy and Agincourt were won by English longbows, so the surname was common. The jump to first name is modern, accelerating with the 2009 Adam Reed animated series Archer and the broader masculine surname-first wave. It entered the US top 200 in 2018. Single short forms aren't common; most Archers go full.
- How do you pronounce Archer?
- Archer is pronounced ˈɑr.tʃɚ. Say it as ARCH-er, with the stress on the "arch" syllable.
- How do you spell Archer?
- The name is spelled A-r-c-h-e-r.
- Is Archer a boy or girl name?
- Archer is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Archer?
- Archer ranked #98 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.