Buford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Buford is of Old French origin, meaning 'beautiful fort'. It evolved from historical forms like Boford to its current version. The name conveys strength and beauty, lacking any significant biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century in the United States and is currently seen as traditional.
The name Buford is most popular in Tennessee, 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. 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, Buford has been stalled for male in MidWest, 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 South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Buford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 363rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 425th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 732nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1323rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3525th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 12085th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 20190th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4121st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6926th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Buford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Buford"
Pronunciation
/ˈbjuːfərd/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Buford is derived from the Old French elements 'beu' meaning 'beautiful' and 'fort' meaning 'strong' or 'fortified'.
Meaning
beautiful fort
Language Evolution
Boford, Buford
Historical Usage
The name Buford gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, particularly as a surname before being adopted as a first name.
Variants & Derivatives
Bueford, Bufford
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Buford is perceived as a traditional and somewhat rustic name, often associated with strength and durability.
Famous People
Buford Pusser - a famous American sheriff and lawman, Buford T. Justice - a fictional character played by Jackie Gleason in the Smokey and the Bandit films
Explore More Buford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Buford"
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 "Buford"
"Buford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 363rd of 7545 | 4,280 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 425th of 6773 | 3,455 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 732nd of 7552 | 1,896 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1323rd of 10718 | 661 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3525th of 16616 | 242 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 12085th of 24088 | 56 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 20190th of 23106 | 10 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4121st of 9107 | 87 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6926th of 9204 | 18 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Buford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
34.11% 483rd/1416 |
- |
9.26% 219th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
39.13% 605th/1546 |
- |
11.86% 279th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
48.45% 1079th/2227 |
- |
18.51% 528th/2853 |
49.15% 1364th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- |
29.14% 1025th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
59.30% 3080th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Buford" 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 "Buford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Buford" 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.