Butler Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BUH-tler //ˈbʌt.lər//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: steward; French: butler
Historical & Cultural Background
The surname Butler has its origins in the Old French word "bouteillier," which translates to "bottle bearer" or "cup bearer." This term was derived from the Latin "butticula," meaning "bottle," which itself comes from "buttis," meaning "cask" or "barrel." The name entered the English language after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many French terms were adopted into English. The role of a butler historically involved serving wine and managing the household's provisions, which contributed to the name's association with domestic service and nobility.
The name Butler became prominent in England during the medieval period, particularly as it was adopted by various noble families. One notable historical milestone is the Butler family of Ireland, who were granted the title of Earl of Ormond in the 14th century.
This family played a significant role in Irish history, particularly during the conflicts between the English crown and the Irish nobility. The Butlers were influential in both political and military spheres, with members of the family serving in various capacities throughout the centuries.
Culturally, the name Butler has been associated with notions of service, loyalty, and hospitality, reflecting the traditional role of the butler in managing a household. The name has also been linked to various literary and artistic representations of domestic life, where the butler often symbolizes a certain level of sophistication and order.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Butty" have emerged in informal contexts, reflecting the name's adaptability in various social settings. Overall, the surname Butler carries a rich historical legacy that intertwines with themes of service and nobility.
Famous people named Butler
In this section, you will find notable people named Butler. 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 Butler who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Butler 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.
Butler Yeats is a poet best known for The Tower, The Winding Stair, and The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats.
Butler Ash is a musician best known for his work with the band The Ashes and his solo albums.
Fictional characters named Butler
The following list of fictional characters named Butler is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Butler is a fictional character from the book series Artemis Fowl. He is a loyal bodyguard and friend to the young criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Butler, 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 Butler. 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 Butler was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Butler has ranked as high as #2536 nationally, which occurred in 1919, and has been most popular in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
In the past 5 years the name Butler has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Butler 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 Butler 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 Butler.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 6 | 6 |
| 1990 | 5 | 5 |
| 1980 | 10 | 10 |
| 1976 | 5 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 | 5 |
| 1967 | 5 | 5 |
| 1964 | 8 | 8 |
| 1962 | 7 | 7 |
| 1961 | 7 | 7 |
| 1960 | 8 | 8 |
| 1959 | 7 | 7 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 |
| 1956 | 9 | 9 |
| 1955 | 9 | 9 |
| 1954 | 8 | 8 |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 |
| 1952 | 6 | 6 |
| 1951 | 9 | 9 |
| 1950 | 5 | 5 |
| 1949 | 15 | 15 |
| 1948 | 14 | 14 |
| 1947 | 11 | 11 |
| 1946 | 10 | 10 |
| 1945 | 15 | 15 |
| 1944 | 7 | 7 |
| 1943 | 22 | 22 |
| 1942 | 10 | 10 |
| 1941 | 10 | 10 |
| 1940 | 13 | 13 |
| 1939 | 6 | 6 |
| 1938 | 23 | 23 |
| 1937 | 14 | 14 |
| 1936 | 16 | 16 |
| 1935 | 11 | 11 |
| 1934 | 10 | 10 |
| 1933 | 10 | 10 |
| 1932 | 10 | 10 |
| 1931 | 9 | 9 |
| 1930 | 12 | 12 |
| 1929 | 20 | 20 |
| 1928 | 17 | 17 |
| 1927 | 14 | 14 |
| 1926 | 17 | 17 |
| 1925 | 9 | 9 |
| 1924 | 23 | 23 |
| 1923 | 21 | 21 |
| 1922 | 17 | 17 |
| 1921 | 22 | 22 |
| 1920 | 24 | 24 |
| 1919 | 31 | 31 |
| 1918 | 21 | 21 |
| 1917 | 23 | 23 |
| 1916 | 24 | 24 |
| 1915 | 25 | 25 |
| 1914 | 22 | 22 |
| 1913 | 20 | 20 |
| 1912 | 15 | 15 |
| 1911 | 10 | 10 |
| 1910 | 8 | 8 |
| 1909 | 8 | 8 |
| 1908 | 8 | 8 |
| 1907 | 6 | 6 |
| 1906 | 7 | 7 |
| 1903 | 7 | 7 |
| 1902 | 6 | 6 |
| 1900 | 12 | 12 |
| 1899 | 12 | 12 |
| 1897 | 7 | 7 |
| 1896 | 11 | 11 |
| 1895 | 9 | 9 |
| 1894 | 9 | 9 |
| 1893 | 10 | 10 |
| 1892 | 13 | 13 |
| 1891 | 5 | 5 |
| 1890 | 11 | 11 |
| 1889 | 12 | 12 |
| 1888 | 6 | 6 |
| 1887 | 9 | 9 |
| 1886 | 13 | 13 |
| 1885 | 12 | 12 |
| 1884 | 5 | 5 |
| 1883 | 7 | 7 |
| 1882 | 12 | 12 |
| 1880 | 8 | 8 |
Top States for Butler (1961)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| LA | 5 |