Holding steady.
Popularity of Buffy since 1951
Babies named Buffy per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 38 |
| 1960s | 674 |
| 1970s | 2,245 |
| 1980s | 273 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 16 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 35 |
Meaning & origin
Buffy is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1951. It peaked in 1972 but never achieved ranking in the top 1000, reflecting its limited use as a standalone name. The name is best known as a diminutive of Elizabeth, but its cultural footprint was shaped by the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', which aired from 1997 to 2003. Despite that exposure, the name has remained stable in low usage, not appearing among top states or in the 1-in-N statistic. As of 2025, Buffy continues to be a name more associated with fictional characters than with real-life births.
Buffy originated as a diminutive of Elizabeth, typically used as a nickname. The name gained recognition through the 1990s television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', which popularized it as a standalone given name. However, its use remains rare, with no recorded rank in U.S. data.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Buff
Sibling names for Buffy
Names that share Buffy's style, for a brother or sister.
