Boyce Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Boyce has its origins in Old French, meaning 'woods' or 'forest'. It evolved from the word 'bois', reflecting a connection to nature. Historically, it began as a surname and gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century. Boyce is associated with a rustic charm and nature, and it has no biblical relevance.
The name Boyce is most popular in South Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent 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. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Boyce has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Boyce' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 711th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 606th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 886th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1587th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3554th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7018th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6678th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7086th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6012th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 10657th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Boyce' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Boyce"
Pronunciation
/bɔɪs/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Boyce is derived from the Old French word 'bois', meaning 'wood' or 'forest'. It was originally used as a surname for people living near or within a forested area.
Meaning
woods, forest
Language Evolution
Bois (Old French), Boyce (Middle English), Boyce (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The surname Boyce became more common in England during the Middle Ages and eventually evolved into a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Boy, Boycie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Boyce is considered a relatively uncommon name but has a classic and rustic charm associated with nature.
Famous People
Boyce Avenue (musical band), Boyce Watkins (author and activist)
Explore More Boyce Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Boyce"
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 "Boyce"
"Boyce" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 711th of 7545 | 1,302 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 606th of 6773 | 1,774 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 886th of 7552 | 1,333 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1587th of 10718 | 486 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3554th of 16616 | 240 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7018th of 24088 | 158 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6678th of 23106 | 148 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7086th of 9107 | 16 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6012th of 9204 | 31 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 10657th of 12526 | 11 |
Regional Popularity of "Boyce" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
79.45% 1125th/1416 |
- |
19.61% 464th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
75.26% 1171st/1556 |
17.76% 418th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
64.77% 1574th/2430 |
22.75% 649th/2853 |
51.57% 1431st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- |
34.91% 1228th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Boyce" 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 "Boyce"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Boyce" 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.