Lloyd
Primarily a boy's name of Welsh origin with 160,877 recorded births. Also given to 998 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Welsh, from a nickname for someone with grey hair.
Lloyd is a boy's and girl's baby name of Welsh origin, from the Welsh llwyd meaning 'grey' — originally a nickname for someone with grey hair, later adopted as both a surname and given name. It has been in continuous English-language use since the medieval period.
Lloyd was most popular in the U.S. from the 1880s through the 1930s. Silent film comedian Harold Lloyd was one of the biggest stars of his era. The name has a sturdy, no-frills quality — deeply rooted in Celtic heritage and unpretentious in character.
EtymologyShow more
Though Lloyd 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 Welsh classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Lloyd’s 160,877 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 tens of thousands of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lloyd was #1155 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1766, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 485 | #1710 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,204 | #1426 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,517 | #1096 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 2,699 | #661 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 4,600 | #398 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 6,812 | #293 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 13,428 | #202 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 20,620 | #146 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 23,603 | #106 | — |
| 1930s | 23,800 | #81 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 33,125 | #60 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 21,743 | #63 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 3,507 | #72 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 2,480 | #79 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 1,254 | #117 | — |
The Story of Lloyd
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1918, Lloyd is a name steeped in history. Boys named Lloyd are most likely born between 1908 and 1928.
How rare is Lloyd?
Only about 1 in every 38,710 babies born in 2024 was named Lloyd — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 33,125 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lloyd by the numbers
- Enough Lloyds to fill 2.3 football stadiums
- More Lloyds than the population of a small U.S. town
- Meeting one Lloyd per day would take 440.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 93 | #1766 |
| 2023 | 90 | #1793 |
| 2022 | 99 | #1713 |
| 2021 | 113 | #1551 |
| 2020 | 90 | #1727 |
| 2019 | 101 | #1630 |
| 2018 | 119 | #1462 |
| 2017 | 105 | #1564 |
| 2016 | 111 | #1520 |
| 2015 | 110 | #1510 |
| 2014 | 120 | #1408 |
| 2013 | 136 | #1282 |
| 2012 | 128 | #1334 |
| 2011 | 147 | #1205 |
| 2010 | 127 | #1346 |
| 2009 | 131 | #1327 |
| 2008 | 163 | #1125 |
| 2007 | 152 | #1166 |
| 2006 | 162 | #1087 |
| 2005 | 142 | #1142 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lloyd as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Lloyd has also been given to 998 girls in the U.S. since 1903.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lloyd a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lloyd most popular?
How popular is the name Lloyd?
Can Lloyd be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024