Buffie
A girl's name of Old English origin with 869 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Buffie is not in the current national top 1,000. It peaked at #92 births in 1970 and has since stepped back from the mainstream.
Appearing in records from 1954 to 1985, Buffie has a solid multi-decade track record without being a permanent fixture — it belongs to a specific chapter of American naming.
Buffie is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Buffie is a girl's baby name of Old English origin, a variant spelling of Buffy, possibly a diminutive of Elizabeth (through the path Elizabeth → Buff → Buffy) or from the English word buff, referring to a pale yellow-tan color.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — the iconic 1990s TV series created by Joss Whedon — gave Buffie and its variant a significant pop-culture association. Before that, Buffy Sainte-Marie (born Beverly Sainte-Marie) gave it a folk-music credential. Buffie carries the same playful energy in a slightly more elaborated written form.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Buffie is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1954 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Buffie’s 869 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Buffie has 20+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1954.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 67 | #6330 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 576 | #1911 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 221 | #2246 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | #5828 | — |
The Story of Buffie
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Buffie is a Gen X staple. Girls named Buffie are most likely born between 1960 and 1980.
How rare is Buffie?
With 869 total births on record, Buffie remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1954, peaked in the 1970s with 576 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Buffie by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Buffie per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(20 years, 1954–1985)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 6 | #9442 |
| 1983 | 8 | #7395 |
| 1982 | 8 | #7565 |
| 1981 | 19 | #4020 |
| 1980 | 26 | #3227 |
| 1979 | 24 | #3351 |
| 1978 | 30 | #2748 |
| 1977 | 29 | #2785 |
| 1976 | 52 | #1796 |
| 1975 | 66 | #1530 |
| 1974 | 59 | #1598 |
| 1973 | 66 | #1450 |
| 1972 | 79 | #1289 |
| 1971 | 79 | #1350 |
| 1970 | 92 | #1214 |
| 1969 | 76 | #1290 |
| 1968 | 90 | #1123 |
| 1967 | 47 | #1661 |
| 1966 | 8 | #4909 |
| 1954 | 5 | #5828 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffie a boy's or girl's name?
When was Buffie most popular?
How popular is the name Buffie?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1954–1985