Ballard Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BAL-ard //ˈbæl.ərd//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: bold; French: from the valley
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ballard has its roots in the Old French word "balard," which means "a brave or strong man." This term likely derived from the Germanic elements "bald," meaning "bold," and "hard," meaning "hardy" or "brave." The name entered the English language through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French names were adopted into English vernacular. As a surname, Ballard was first recorded in England during the medieval period, often associated with individuals who exhibited notable bravery or strength in battle or other endeavors.
Historically, the name Ballard appears in various records throughout the Middle Ages. Notable figures include Ballard of the 12th century, a knight who participated in the Crusades, and the Ballard family, who were prominent landowners in England during the 13th century.
The name also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is associated with landholdings in various regions of England. Additionally, the name has been linked to several saints and ecclesiastical figures, contributing to its historical significance within Christian contexts.
Culturally, the name Ballard has been associated with themes of valor and resilience, reflecting the qualities of its etymological roots. It has been used in literature and folklore, often symbolizing a heroic character or a steadfast individual.
The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as "Baldy," which have been used informally. Overall, Ballard carries a legacy of strength and bravery, making it a name with deep historical and cultural resonance.
Famous people named Ballard
In this section, you will find notable people named Ballard. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ballard who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ballard who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Ballard Lesemann is a musician best known for his work with the band The Ballards.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ballard, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ballard. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Ballard was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Ballard has ranked as high as #2252 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.
In the past 5 years the name Ballard has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ballard is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ballard was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ballard.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 |
| 1997 | 7 | 7 |
| 1986 | 6 | 6 |
| 1976 | 7 | 7 |
| 1972 | 5 | 5 |
| 1971 | 7 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 |
| 1969 | 5 | 5 |
| 1967 | 6 | 6 |
| 1966 | 6 | 6 |
| 1965 | 9 | 9 |
| 1964 | 5 | 5 |
| 1963 | 5 | 5 |
| 1962 | 12 | 12 |
| 1961 | 5 | 5 |
| 1960 | 16 | 16 |
| 1959 | 11 | 11 |
| 1958 | 9 | 9 |
| 1957 | 15 | 15 |
| 1956 | 15 | 15 |
| 1955 | 8 | 8 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | 10 | 10 |
| 1952 | 17 | 17 |
| 1951 | 21 | 21 |
| 1950 | 14 | 14 |
| 1949 | 18 | 18 |
| 1948 | 14 | 14 |
| 1947 | 17 | 17 |
| 1946 | 16 | 16 |
| 1945 | 16 | 16 |
| 1944 | 16 | 16 |
| 1943 | 10 | 10 |
| 1942 | 17 | 17 |
| 1941 | 11 | 11 |
| 1940 | 22 | 22 |
| 1939 | 10 | 10 |
| 1938 | 17 | 17 |
| 1937 | 25 | 25 |
| 1936 | 22 | 22 |
| 1935 | 19 | 19 |
| 1934 | 11 | 11 |
| 1933 | 23 | 23 |
| 1932 | 26 | 26 |
| 1931 | 16 | 16 |
| 1930 | 25 | 25 |
| 1929 | 24 | 24 |
| 1928 | 32 | 32 |
| 1927 | 24 | 24 |
| 1926 | 21 | 21 |
| 1925 | 13 | 13 |
| 1924 | 17 | 17 |
| 1923 | 23 | 23 |
| 1922 | 40 | 40 |
| 1921 | 37 | 37 |
| 1920 | 26 | 26 |
| 1919 | 23 | 23 |
| 1918 | 33 | 33 |
| 1917 | 23 | 23 |
| 1916 | 33 | 33 |
| 1915 | 29 | 29 |
| 1914 | 17 | 17 |
| 1913 | 19 | 19 |
| 1912 | 6 | 6 |
| 1910 | 10 | 10 |
| 1907 | 5 | 5 |
| 1903 | 5 | 5 |
| 1902 | 5 | 5 |
| 1901 | 7 | 7 |
| 1900 | 5 | 5 |
| 1899 | 6 | 6 |
| 1896 | 5 | 5 |
| 1895 | 5 | 5 |
| 1892 | 8 | 8 |
| 1889 | 12 | 12 |
| 1888 | 5 | 5 |
| 1887 | 5 | 5 |
| 1886 | 6 | 6 |
| 1885 | 5 | 5 |
| 1883 | 7 | 7 |
| 1882 | 7 | 7 |
| 1881 | 7 | 7 |
| 1880 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Ballard (1956)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| KY | 5 |