How to say it
SPEN · cer
ˈspɛn.sər
Masculine
Spencer
Steward, dispenser of provisions
What it means
An English occupational surname for the steward who dispensed provisions in a great household.
Spencer comes from a medieval household role: the dispenser, the official who managed and handed out the provisions of a noble estate. It became a distinguished English surname, borne by the family of Princess Diana, and crossed comfortably into first-name use. Spencer Tracy carried it through Hollywood's golden age. It reads polished and a touch preppy. Spence is the natural short.
How to spell Spencer
The standard spelling is Spencer. Common variants include Spenser, but Spencer is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #84 in 1998, currently #360 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
- Nickname
Spence is the easy short.
- Spelling
Spencer is the usual name; Spenser is the poet Edmund Spenser's spelling.
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.
- Spencer Tracy American actor of Hollywood's golden age
Spelling variants
- Spenser
Names with the same feeling
See Spencer from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Spencer mean?
- An English occupational surname for the steward who dispensed provisions in a great household.
- What does Spencer mean in English?
- In English, Spencer means "Steward, dispenser of provisions." Spencer comes from a medieval household role: the dispenser, the official who managed and handed out the provisions of a noble estate. It became a distinguished English surname, borne by the family of Princess Diana, and crossed comfortably into first-name use. Spencer Tracy carried it through Hollywood's golden age. It reads polished and a touch preppy. Spence is the natural short.
- How do you pronounce Spencer?
- Spencer is pronounced ˈspɛn.sər. Say it as SPEN-cer, with the stress on the "spen" syllable.
- How do you spell Spencer?
- The standard spelling is Spencer. Common spelling variants include Spenser.
- Is Spencer a boy or girl name?
- Spencer is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Spencer?
- Spencer ranked #360 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.