Doorkeeper or gatekeeper
Derived from the Middle English and Old French word 'ussier', it originally denoted an official who introduces people into a court or hall. In a modern context, it is most famously associated with the R&B superstar, giving it a cool, rhythmic quality.
Less common today
Usher isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #1,962 in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Grammy-winning R&B singer and dancer
The doomed family name in Edgar Allan Poe's short story · The Fall of the House of Usher
