Declining since 1988, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Garland since 1880
Babies named Garland per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Garland's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 133 |
| 1890s | 265 |
| 1900s | 442 |
| 1910s | 2,636 |
| 1920s | 4,144 |
| 1930s | 3,695 |
| 1940s | 3,810 |
| 1950s | 3,221 |
| 1960s | 2,216 |
| 1970s | 1,349 |
| 1980s | 840 |
| 1990s | 545 |
| 2000s | 274 |
| 2010s | 188 |
| 2020s | 99 |
Meaning & origin
Garland is a name that saw its greatest use in the early decades of the 20th century, peaking in 1905. Since 1988, its popularity has been steadily declining, and in the most recent year tracked (2025), it ranked 6803 with only 1 in 142,340 newborn boys receiving the name. The name's trajectory places it among many surname-style names that were fashionable in the early 1900s but have since become uncommon. Despite its rarity today, Garland retains a rugged, natural feel, connected to both landscape features and floral wreaths.
Garland is derived from the Old French 'garlande' meaning 'wreath' or 'crown', but as a given name it is primarily a transferred use of the English surname. The surname has multiple origins: from the Old English 'gara' meaning 'triangular piece of land' and 'land', or from the Old Norse 'görr' meaning 'speckled' plus 'land'. It was occasionally used as a given name in the 19th century, possibly inspired by the natural element of a garland of flowers.
Where Garland 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
Nicknames: Gary, Lanny, Gar
Variants: Garlande
Sibling names for Garland
Names that share Garland's style, for a brother or sister.
