Foster
/F-AO-S-T-EH-R/
Forest keeper, from Old English forester. A occupational surname turned first name, evoking woodland guardianship
See Foster scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Foster:
Yes — Foster is a Christian boy name of English origin, meaning “Forest keeper, from Old English forester. A occupational surname turned first name, evoking woodland guardianship”.
How well does Foster fit your family?
This page tells you what Foster means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Foster's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Foster is a boy's name of English origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Forest keeper, from Old English forester. A occupational surname turned first name, evoking woodland guardianship" and belongs to the Nature cluster — names drawn from the natural world — earth, water, sky.
Common among British, American, European families, Foster carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Foster look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Foster carries. No two are alike.
See Foster's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Foster's baby portrait →What does Foster's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Foster resonates in either tradition.
Foster's destiny number is 11 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Foster's full reading →
Does Foster go with your family's names?
Foster breaks into 6 sounds: /F-AO-S-T-EH-R/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Foster sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Foster beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Foster — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Foster
If Foster resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in British families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Nature cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Foster
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Foster — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Foster
What does the name Foster mean?
Foster means "Forest keeper, from Old English forester. A occupational surname turned first name, evoking woodland guardianship." It is a boy name of English origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Foster a boy or girl name?
Foster is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Foster?
Foster is of English origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among British, American, European families.
Is Foster a Christian name?
Yes. Foster is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of English origin.
What does Foster mean in English?
Foster originates from English, where it means "Forest keeper, from Old English forester. A occupational surname turned first name, evoking woodland guardianship."
What are common nicknames for Foster?
Common short forms of Foster include Fosi, Fost.
What is the numerology of Foster?
Foster has a Pythagorean destiny number of 11 — intuition and inspired leadership (master number).
See how Foster scores for your family
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