boy's name

Strummer

STRUM-er (English)

  • Origin English
  • Gender Boy
  • Syllables 2
  • Letters 8
  • Births on record 67

Strummer is a rare boy's name meaning "one who strums," taken from the English word for a guitarist's stroke. As a name it honors Joe Strummer, singer of The Clash, who died in 2002. US birth records first list Strummer in 2005.

  • Strummer is a name of English origin.
  • Peaked in 2010, when 16 babies were given the name.
  • It has largely dropped out of use.
  • First appears in US birth records in 2005.
  • 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.

Strummer Over Time

Births per decade in the United States, 2000s to 2010s.

36
'00 '10
Show the numbers
Births named Strummer by decade in the United States
Decade Births
2000s 31
2010s 36

What Strummer Means

Strummer means someone who strums a stringed instrument. For parents who choose it, the word is a tribute to one musician, so the name's sense is musical and rebellious.

Where Strummer Comes From

English strum dates from the eighteenth century and is likely imitative, copying the sound of fingers swept across strings. Adding -er makes the agent noun. John Graham Mellor adopted the stage name Joe Strummer in the 1970s, a self-mocking nod to his rhythm guitar work, and he made it famous as cofounder of The Clash in London. He died in December 2002, and American parents began to use the name a few years later, with births recorded between 2005 and 2014, so the name works as a memorial more than as a fashion.

Strummer in Use

Music tribute names have a long record, and Lennon and Hendrix are better-known examples. Strummer stands out because the chosen word was a stage name invented by the musician himself.

How Popular Is Strummer?

In 2014, Strummer was given to 7 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.

US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.

Names That Peaked Alongside Strummer

These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.

Parents Who Like Strummer Also Like

Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Strummer over the last century — the same taste, a different name.

How to Say Strummer

  • English STRUM-er /ˈstrʌmər/

Sibling Names for Strummer

Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Strummer — the two things that make a sibling set grate.

Common Questions About Strummer

What does the name Strummer mean?

One who strums a stringed instrument.

Is Strummer named after Joe Strummer?

Most American parents who choose it are almost certainly honoring him.

Was Joe Strummer his real name?

No. He was born John Graham Mellor and chose it as a stage name.

How popular is the name Strummer?

In 2014, Strummer was given to 7 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.

Is Strummer a girl's or a boy's name?

Strummer is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.

How many syllables are in Strummer?

Strummer has 2 syllables.

When was Strummer most popular?

Strummer peaked in 2010, when 16 babies were given the name. It has largely dropped out of use.