Butler
A boy's name of Middle English origin with 987 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname. An English and Irish surname from Middle English [in turn originating as an occupation], for someone who was a butler or wine servant. An Anglicized form of the French Boutilier, Boutillier, Bouthillier surname from French of similar derivation.
Butler is a boy's baby name of Middle English origin, an occupational surname from the Old French bouteillier, meaning 'bottle carrier' or 'wine steward,' given to the head servant of a household responsible for wines and spirits.
As a first name, Butler carries the understated elegance of the British country house — think crisp white gloves and impeccable discretion. It's a surname-as-first-name that evokes both service and authority, and in the American South it has been used as a given name since the Civil War era.
EtymologyShow more
Though Butler dates back to 1880 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Middle English classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Butler’s 987 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Butler has 84+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 10 | — |
| 1970s | 10 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 35 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 65 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 127 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 121 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 184 | — |
| 1910s | 199 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 54 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 87 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 84 | — |
The Story of Butler
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1919, Butler is a name steeped in history. Boys named Butler are most likely born between 1909 and 1929.
How rare is Butler?
With 987 total births on record, Butler remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 199 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Butler by the numbers
- Would fill 21 school buses
- Meeting one Butler per day would take 2.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(84 years, 1880–1996)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 6 | #8085 |
| 1990 | 5 | #8275 |
| 1980 | 10 | #3882 |
| 1976 | 5 | #5714 |
| 1971 | 5 | #5004 |
| 1967 | 5 | #4032 |
| 1964 | 8 | #3072 |
| 1962 | 7 | #3345 |
| 1961 | 7 | #3392 |
| 1960 | 8 | #3125 |
| 1959 | 7 | #3319 |
| 1958 | 7 | #3313 |
| 1956 | 9 | #2818 |
| 1955 | 9 | #2793 |
| 1954 | 8 | #2982 |
| 1953 | 5 | #3872 |
| 1952 | 6 | #3412 |
| 1951 | 9 | #2687 |
| 1950 | 5 | #3758 |
| 1949 | 15 | #1952 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butler a boy's or girl's name?
When was Butler most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–1996