Holding steady.
Popularity of Bayard since 1882
Babies named Bayard per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bayard's real moment was 1900.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 10 |
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 171 |
| 1920s | 204 |
| 1930s | 110 |
| 1940s | 119 |
| 1950s | 103 |
| 1960s | 66 |
| 1970s | 35 |
| 1980s | 36 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 27 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Bayard is a rare but storied masculine name with roots in French and possibly Germanic tradition. According to U.S. Social Security data, the name first appeared in records in 1882, with its peak year being 1900, when it was given to 18 boys. Since then, it has maintained a stable but extremely low usage, never ranking among the top 1,000 names. Its trajectory is classified as stable, meaning it has not seen a resurgence or notable decline in recent decades. Bayard carries a literary and chivalric air due to its association with the magical horse in medieval French romance, and it was used notably by the American politician and diplomat Bayard Taylor. For parents seeking an uncommon name with historical depth, Bayard offers a distinctive choice without modern trends.
The name Bayard has two proposed etymologies. One traces it to the Old French verb 'baier' (to gape or yawn), which could have been a nickname for someone with a wide mouth. The other derives from the Germanic name 'Baiard', composed of elements meaning 'shining' or 'bright'. In medieval French romance, Bayard was the name of a magical bay horse owned by the four sons of Aymon, giving the name a literary association. It has been used sparingly in the English-speaking world, notably in the Southern United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bay
Sibling names for Bayard
Names that share Bayard's style, for a brother or sister.
