Declining since 2017, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Boyce since 1885
Babies named Boyce per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1934, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Boyce's real moment was 1900.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 46 |
| 1900s | 90 |
| 1910s | 514 |
| 1920s | 906 |
| 1930s | 1,034 |
| 1940s | 904 |
| 1950s | 707 |
| 1960s | 481 |
| 1970s | 252 |
| 1980s | 169 |
| 1990s | 135 |
| 2000s | 92 |
| 2010s | 123 |
| 2020s | 60 |
Meaning & origin
Boyce is a rare masculine given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1885. Its peak popularity came in 1900, when it reached its highest rank, but it has since declined significantly. Since 2017, the name has been on a downward trajectory, with only about 1 in 213,510 boys receiving the name in 2025. The name shares the style of turn-of-the-century choices like Claude and Roy, fitting a vintage revival pattern, though it remains uncommon compared to its peers. With no top states indicating regional clusters, Boyce has scattered usage across the country.
Boyce originated as an English surname, likely derived from the Middle English 'boyce' or Old French 'bois' meaning 'wood'. It may have been a topographic name for someone living near a wood or a habitational name from a place named Bois. The name gained use as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Boyce is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Boyse, Boyes
Sibling names for Boyce
Names that share Boyce's style, for a brother or sister.
