Buffy
Primarily a girl's name with 3,306 recorded births. Also given to 6 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
Buffy is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a diminutive of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheba meaning 'pledged to God' or 'my God is abundance.' The name gained iconic status through Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992-2003) — the cheerleader who became the world's defender.
Buffy subverted every expectation of what a girl with this name could be — cheery on the surface, formidably capable underneath.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Buffy belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Sound-alike names often cluster in style even when they come from different linguistic roots. The Similar Names section below uses letter and phonetic patterns to surface names in Buffy’s sonic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Buffy has 41+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1951.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 35 | #12478 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 16 | #12020 | — |
| 2000s | 16 | #15650 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 9 | #8584 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 273 | #4985 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 2,245 | #753 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 674 | #2876 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 38 | #4765 | — |
The Story of Buffy
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1972, Buffy is a Gen X staple. Girls named Buffy are most likely born between 1962 and 1982.
How rare is Buffy?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Buffy — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1951, peaked in the 1970s with 2,245 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Buffy by the numbers
- Would fill 69 school buses
- Meeting one Buffy per day would take 9.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(41 years, 1951–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #13737 |
| 2023 | 8 | #11351 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12484 |
| 2021 | 7 | #12442 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12378 |
| 2017 | 8 | #11847 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12192 |
| 2005 | 5 | #16948 |
| 2003 | 6 | #14158 |
| 2002 | 5 | #15843 |
| 1990 | 9 | #8584 |
| 1988 | 6 | #10545 |
| 1987 | 7 | #8898 |
| 1986 | 9 | #7200 |
| 1985 | 12 | #5717 |
| 1984 | 21 | #3746 |
| 1983 | 25 | #3256 |
| 1982 | 47 | #2151 |
| 1981 | 52 | #2011 |
| 1980 | 94 | #1340 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Buffy as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Buffy has also been given to 6 boys in the U.S. since 1971.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffy a boy's or girl's name?
When was Buffy most popular?
How popular is the name Buffy?
Can Buffy be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1951–2024