Ballard Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Ballard has its roots in Old English, meaning 'bold' or 'brave'. It has evolved through various forms, from Bealdard in Old English to its modern usage. The name conveys traits of strength and courage, although it does not have biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the Middle Ages and is now seen as a traditional name with a strong image.
The name Ballard is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ballard has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Ballard' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1430th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1627th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2300th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5640th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15579th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 19331st out of 24088 names. Discover how the name 'Ballard' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ballard"
Pronunciation
/ˈbæl.ərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Ballard is derived from the Old English word 'beald', meaning 'bold' or 'brave', combined with the suffix '-ard', which denotes a person characterized by a particular quality.
Meaning
bold, brave
Language Evolution
Old English: Bealdard, Middle English: Ballard, Modern English: Ballard
Historical Usage
The name Ballard gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages, particularly as a surname before becoming more common as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Baldric, Baldwin, Bally
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Ballard is viewed as a traditional yet distinctive name, often associated with strength and courage.
Famous People
Ballard Smith, an American politician, Ballard Dunn, a notable British author
Explore More Ballard Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ballard"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ballard"
"Ballard" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1430th of 7545 | 416 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1627th of 6773 | 342 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2300th of 7552 | 237 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5640th of 10718 | 50 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15579th of 16616 | 6 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 19331st of 24088 | 13 |
Regional Popularity of "Ballard" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
36.98% 875th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
42.80% 1007th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
58.96% 1682nd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Ballard" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ballard"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ballard" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.