Buster Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Buster is an American English name that means brave and strong, originating from the word 'bust.' The name evolved from its Old English roots and gained popularity in the early 20th century. It is associated with a friendly image and has notable figures like Buster Keaton and Buster Posey.
The name Buster is most popular in Oklahoma, 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, Buster 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, 'Buster' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 390th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 585th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 929th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1728th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3322nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6774th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6365th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Buster' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Buster"
Pronunciation
/ˈbʌstər/
Origin
American English
Etymology
The name Buster is derived from the English word 'bust,' which means to break or smash. It originally referred to someone who had a strong or forceful personality.
Meaning
brave, strong, tough
Language Evolution
Buster (modern usage), Bust (Old English origin)
Historical Usage
Buster became popular in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States, as a term of endearment and as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Busty, Busterman
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Buster is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, commonly associated with pets and characters in media.
Famous People
Buster Keaton, Buster Posey
Explore More Buster Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Buster"
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 "Buster"
"Buster" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 390th of 7545 | 3,774 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 585th of 6773 | 1,881 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 929th of 7552 | 1,216 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1728th of 10718 | 430 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3322nd of 16616 | 266 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6774th of 24088 | 166 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6365th of 23106 | 159 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Buster" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
52.33% 741st/1416 |
- |
10.40% 246th/2366 |
60.33% 689th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
18.06% 425th/2353 |
52.29% 809th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
24.54% 700th/2853 |
46.31% 1285th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- |
43.55% 1532nd/3518 |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
61.82% 3211th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
57.18% 4267th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
75.38% 4731st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Buster" 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 "Buster"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Buster" 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.