Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1921

Buford

Meaning Buford is a given name of English origins Gender Boy · 1% girls Rank 2025 #10,884

Buford is a given name of English origins.

Rank 2025
#10,884
among boys
Babies in 2025
6
named Buford
How common
1 in 284,679
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1921
334 babies
All-time total
10,964
#1,152 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Buford popularity over time

10,964 babies have been named Buford since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 69 69 7 – #558
1890s – 156 156 16 +126% #439
1900s 5 277 282 28 +81% #326
1910s 48 1,737 1,785 179 +533% #311
1920s 40 2,759 2,799 280 +57% #318
1930s 7 1,935 1,942 194 -31% #368
1940s 5 1,652 1,657 166 -15% #427
1950s 5 963 968 97 -42% #599
1960s – 587 587 59 -39% #855
1970s – 375 375 38 -36% #1,133
1980s – 203 203 20 -46% #1,779
1990s – 88 88 9 -57% #3,483
2000s – 32 32 3 -64% #6,922
2010s – 10 10 1 -69% #12,487
2020s (to 2025) – 11 11 2 +83% #10,884

The story of Buford

Buford is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #10,884 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 10,964 American babies have been named Buford. Its peak came in 1921, when 334 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Buford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Buford?

The median living Buford is about 71 years old; half are between 57 and 81. An estimated 3,000 people named Buford are alive in the United States today.

median 71 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Buford year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – 6 #10,884
2024 – – – –
2023 – – 5 #12,533
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – 5 #12,487
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – 5 #12,563
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – 6 #10,858
2005 – – 10 #7,193
2004 – – – –
2003 – – 7 #8,790
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – 9 #6,922
1995 – – 9 #5,986
1990 – – 17 #3,483
1985 – – 24 #2,233
1980 – – 30 #1,859
1975 – – 46 #1,259
1970 – – 53 #1,133
1965 – – 67 #900
1960 – – 70 #905
1955 – – 93 #756
1950 – – 130 #599
1945 – – 129 #525
1940 5 #4,438 186 #427
1935 – – 174 #424
1930 – – 240 #371
1925 – – 283 #347
1920 5 #5,082 278 #354
1915 5 #4,366 209 #372
1910 6 #2,180 63 #311
1905 – – 37 #329
1900 – – 23 #478
1895 – – 20 #439
1890 – – 13 #539
1885 – – – –
1880 – – 11 #575

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Buford, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Buford?

The median living Buford is about 71 years old. Half of all living Bufords are between 57 and 81 years old.

How many people named Buford are alive today?

An estimated 3,000 people named Buford are alive in the United States, based on 10,964 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Buford mean?

Buford is a given name of English origins.

How popular is the name Buford in 2025?

Buford ranked #10,884 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Buford?

10,964 babies have been named Buford in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Buford most popular?

Buford peaked in 1921, when 334 newborns received the name.

Is Buford a boy or girl name?

Buford is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Buford rising or falling?

Buford is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Buford

Names that sound and feel close to Buford: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Buford with similar names → More names starting with B →