Butch
A boy's name of American origin with 3,423 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A male nickname.
Butch is a boy's baby name of American origin, a nickname that originated as slang for 'little boy' or 'tough kid,' used throughout the 20th century. Its roots may be in the Yiddish or Dutch influence on American English, where butcher-related words carried connotations of toughness.
Butch Cassidy, the legendary outlaw, is perhaps the name's most famous bearer — making it permanently associated with the American frontier spirit. Butch Harmon (golf coach), Butch Reed (wrestler), and countless blue-collar American heroes carried this nickname into iconic status.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Butch belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At one syllable, it has a punchy, memorable cadence that makes an immediate impression.
Within the American naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring American names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Butch’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Butch was #7044 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #10029, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 28 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 36 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 73 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 121 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 211 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 316 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 740 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,189 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 646 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 53 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 5 | — |
| 1910s | 5 | — |
The Story of Butch
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1956, Butch is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Butch are most likely born between 1946 and 1966.
How rare is Butch?
Only about 1 in every 514,286 babies born in 2024 was named Butch — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1919, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 1,189 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Butch by the numbers
- Would fill 71 school buses
- Meeting one Butch per day would take 9.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(86 years, 1919–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | #10029 |
| 2023 | 10 | #7819 |
| 2022 | 6 | #11082 |
| 2021 | 5 | #12436 |
| 2019 | 5 | #12448 |
| 2017 | 6 | #10987 |
| 2016 | 5 | #12488 |
| 2013 | 6 | #10945 |
| 2011 | 5 | #12562 |
| 2010 | 9 | #8246 |
| 2008 | 5 | #12805 |
| 2007 | 8 | #9038 |
| 2006 | 6 | #10858 |
| 2005 | 10 | #7194 |
| 2004 | 10 | #7044 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9747 |
| 2002 | 8 | #7742 |
| 2001 | 12 | #5720 |
| 2000 | 8 | #7539 |
| 1998 | 6 | #8613 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butch a boy's or girl's name?
When was Butch most popular?
How popular is the name Butch?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1919–2024