Boyd
Boyd was the 1959th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 78 babies. Its best year was 1899, when it ranked 228th; the most babies were born in 1922 (508). Over the last ten years it has moved down 131 places. More babies were named Boyd in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning "yellow-haired" or "from Bute" · Scottish Gaelic
Say it BOYD /bɔɪd/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,959 boys, down 431 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 78boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1922508 babies
- Total since 1880
- 27,745babies recorded
What does the name Boyd mean?
Boyd is a Scottish surname used as a first name. Wiktionary gives two possible origins: Gaelic buidhe, "yellow, fair-haired", or a name for someone from the Isle of Bute. As a first name Boyd was most common in the US in the 1920s and 1930s.
buidhe (Scottish Gaelic, “yellow, fair”)Bute (Scottish place-name, “Isle of Bute”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two possible origins are given.
Related names: Boyde.
See also: Scottish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Boyd', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Boyd (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Boyd popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 65 since 1916.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,959 | 78 |
| 2020 | #1,528 | 109 |
| 2010 | #2,519 | 49 |
| 2000 | #2,336 | 41 |
| 1990 | #1,396 | 64 |
| 1980 | #905 | 98 |
| 1970 | #490 | 273 |
| 1960 | #410 | 370 |
| 1950 | #365 | 342 |
| 1940 | #290 | 374 |
| 1930 | #272 | 430 |
| 1920 | #256 | 457 |
| 1910 | #263 | 86 |
| 1900 | #260 | 62 |
| 1890 | #290 | 35 |
| 1880 | #443 | 16 |
How popular is Boyd, counting every spelling?
Boyd has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Boyd?
78 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Boyd (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Boyd born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 108 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Boyd.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Boyd?
About 11,400 people born in the US named Boyd are alive today, with a median age of 62; half are between 44 and 73. That makes Boyd a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Boyd by state
How common Boyd was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 39 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Boyd: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Boyd, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Boyd · Sibling names for Boyd
Questions about the name Boyd
What does Boyd mean?
Boyd is usually explained as “"yellow-haired" or "from Bute"”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Boyd?
Boyd was the 1959th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 78 babies. Its best year was 1899, when it ranked 228th; the most babies were born in 1922 (508). Over the last ten years it has moved down 131 places. More babies were named Boyd in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Boyd a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Boyd in the US.
Where is Boyd most popular?
In 2021–2025, Boyd was most common in Iowa (0.17 per 1,000 boys), followed by Kentucky and Indiana.