Holding steady.
Popularity of Biff since 1944
Babies named Biff per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 132 |
| 1960s | 62 |
| 1970s | 47 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
The name Biff is a rare American given name first recorded in 1944. It reached its peak popularity in 1956, though it never ranked among the top 1000. The name is often associated with the character Biff Loman from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, which contributed to its usage in the mid-20th century. Since then, its use has remained stable and very uncommon. Biff is almost exclusively used as a boy's name, and its short, sharp sound gives it a distinctly mid-century American feel.
Biff is recorded as a given name in the United States starting in the 1940s, but its exact derivation is unclear. It may have originated as a nickname for the surname Biffin or as a variant of the word 'biff,' meaning a sharp blow. The name saw its peak popularity in 1956, likely influenced by the character Biff Loman in Arthur Miller's 1949 play 'Death of a Salesman.'
Sibling names for Biff
Names that share Biff's style, for a brother or sister.
