Buster: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,871

among boys · ↓350 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Buster

How common

1 in 142,340

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1918

251 babies

All-time total

8,178

#1,360 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Buster popularity over time

8,178 babies have been named Buster 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

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	–	103	103	10	–	#433
1890s	–	141	141	14	+37%	#425
1900s	–	467	467	47	+231%	#238
1910s	5	1,793	1,798	180	+285%	#240
1920s	–	1,822	1,822	182	+1%	#398
1930s	–	1,103	1,103	110	-39%	#489
1940s	–	812	812	81	-26%	#610
1950s	–	694	694	69	-15%	#704
1960s	–	355	355	36	-49%	#1,034
1970s	–	257	257	26	-28%	#1,637
1980s	–	179	179	18	-30%	#2,223
1990s	–	141	141	14	-21%	#3,327
2000s	–	99	99	10	-30%	#5,167
2010s	–	131	131	13	+32%	#5,093
2020s (to 2025)	–	76	76	13	-3%	#4,731

The story of Buster

Buster is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,871 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 8,178 American babies have been named Buster. Its peak came in 1918, when 251 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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 Buster stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Buster?

The median living Buster is about 65 years old; half are between 43 and 77. An estimated 2,200 people named Buster are alive in the United States today.

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

Buster 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	–	–	12	#6,871
2024	–	–	13	#6,521
2023	–	–	12	#6,960
2022	–	–	21	#4,731
2021	–	–	7	#9,885
2020	–	–	11	#7,113
2019	–	–	12	#6,843
2018	–	–	10	#7,709
2017	–	–	13	#6,376
2016	–	–	13	#6,418
2015	–	–	17	#5,331
2014	–	–	18	#5,093
2013	–	–	12	#6,660
2012	–	–	11	#7,141
2011	–	–	14	#5,991
2010	–	–	11	#7,147
2009	–	–	8	#9,104
2008	–	–	11	#7,271
2007	–	–	13	#6,322
2006	–	–	6	#10,860
2005	–	–	14	#5,610
2004	–	–	10	#7,044
2003	–	–	6	#9,746
2002	–	–	9	#7,122
2001	–	–	14	#5,167
2000	–	–	8	#7,539
1995	–	–	19	#3,443
1990	–	–	18	#3,327
1985	–	–	17	#2,846
1980	–	–	23	#2,223
1975	–	–	22	#2,072
1970	–	–	20	#1,999
1965	–	–	42	#1,165
1960	–	–	55	#1,034
1955	–	–	63	#942
1950	–	–	95	#704
1945	–	–	81	#668
1940	–	–	95	#610
1935	–	–	105	#563
1930	–	–	142	#501
1925	–	–	191	#430
1920	–	–	207	#409
1915	–	–	214	#367
1910	–	–	98	#240
1905	–	–	52	#274
1900	–	–	25	#456
1895	–	–	16	#505
1890	–	–	8	#753
1885	–	–	14	#502
1880	–	–	8	#688

Famous people named Buster

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Buster Keaton American actor and filmmaker (1895–1966) 19th century
2 Buster Douglas American boxer (born 1960) Contemporary
3 Buster Posey American baseball player and executive (born 1987) Contemporary
4 Buster Crabbe American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, actor (1908–1983) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Buster?

The median living Buster is about 65 years old. Half of all living Busters are between 43 and 77 years old.

How many people named Buster are alive today?

An estimated 2,200 people named Buster are alive in the United States, based on 8,178 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Buster mean?

Buster is the given name of the following people:Buster (1958–1991), American adult film actor and model Buster Drayton (1952–2022), American boxer Buster Glosson, retired U.S.

How popular is the name Buster in 2025?

Buster ranked #6,871 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Buster?

8,178 babies have been named Buster in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Buster most popular?

Buster peaked in 1918, when 251 newborns received the name.

Is Buster a boy or girl name?

Buster is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Buster rising or falling?

Buster has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Buster?

Well-known people named Buster include Buster Keaton (actor), Buster Douglas (boxer), Buster Posey (baseball player).

Names like Buster

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

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