Burt
A boy's name of Old English origin with 6,555 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name.
Burt is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, a diminutive of Burton or Bert, with Burton derived from a place name meaning 'fortified settlement,' from the Old English burh (fort) and tun (settlement).
Burt Reynolds, the charismatic actor who became one of the top box office stars of the 1970s and 80s, made this name inseparably linked to a particular brand of American swagger and self-deprecating charm. Burt Lancaster adds further Hollywood gravitas to the name's legacy.
EtymologyShow more
Burt is cataloged under the Old English naming tradition. Names from the Old English tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Burt has been recorded as a boy's name since 1880, with 6,555 total births. Browse the Old English names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Burt has 122+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | #10986 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 19 | #9632 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 70 | #6505 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 262 | #2457 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 669 | #1038 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 922 | #787 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,238 | #658 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 802 | #731 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 729 | #715 | — |
| 1920s | 756 | #754 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 482 | #762 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 144 | #652 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 179 | #484 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 277 | #343 | — |
The Story of Burt
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1956, Burt is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Burt are most likely born between 1946 and 1966.
How rare is Burt?
Burt has 6,555 recorded births in the U.S. — a well-established name with deep roots.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 1,238 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Burt by the numbers
- Would fill 137 school buses
- Meeting one Burt per day would take 18 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(122 years, 1880–2017)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 | #10986 |
| 2004 | 5 | #11614 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9745 |
| 2000 | 8 | #7537 |
| 1998 | 7 | #7665 |
| 1997 | 6 | #8269 |
| 1995 | 6 | #7924 |
| 1994 | 8 | #6445 |
| 1993 | 6 | #7751 |
| 1992 | 16 | #3775 |
| 1991 | 8 | #6016 |
| 1990 | 13 | #4193 |
| 1989 | 15 | #3641 |
| 1988 | 15 | #3375 |
| 1987 | 14 | #3359 |
| 1986 | 17 | #2906 |
| 1985 | 16 | #2959 |
| 1984 | 31 | #1801 |
| 1983 | 25 | #2093 |
| 1982 | 36 | #1656 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burt a boy's or girl's name?
When was Burt most popular?
How popular is the name Burt?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2017