Gaylord Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GAY-lord //ˈɡeɪlɔrd//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: cheerful; French: gay-hearted
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gaylord has its roots in the Old French word "gaillard," which means "joyful" or "lively." This term evolved from the Latin "gaius," meaning "rejoicing" or "merry." The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French words and names were adopted into the English language. The name Gaylord thus reflects a lineage that traces back through French and Latin influences, embodying a sense of cheerfulness and vivacity.
Historically, the name Gaylord has been borne by various notable figures, particularly in the medieval period. One significant milestone is the use of the name in the 12th century, when it began to appear in English records as a given name.
The name was also associated with several places, such as Gaylord, Michigan, which was named in the late 19th century, further embedding the name within the cultural landscape of English-speaking regions. Although not directly linked to biblical figures or saints, the name's cheerful connotation resonates with the broader themes of joy and celebration found in various cultural narratives.
Culturally, Gaylord has been associated with positive attributes such as happiness and liveliness, which have contributed to its endurance over the centuries. The name has also been used in literature and popular culture, often evoking a sense of warmth and friendliness.
Related forms, such as the diminutive "Gail," have emerged, though they are less common. Overall, the name Gaylord encapsulates a rich linguistic heritage and a tradition of joyful associations that have allowed it to persist through time.
Famous people named Gaylord
In this section, you will find notable people named Gaylord. 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 Gaylord who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Gaylord 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.
Gaylord Perry is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers.
Fictional characters named Gaylord
The following list of fictional characters named Gaylord 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.
Gaylord Focker is a fictional character from the film series Meet the Parents. He is a male nurse who navigates the challenges of meeting his future in-laws, leading to comedic situations.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gaylord, 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 Gaylord. 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 Gaylord was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Gaylord has ranked as high as #914 nationally, which occurred in 1931, and has been most popular in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa.
In the past 5 years the name Gaylord has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gaylord 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 Gaylord 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 Gaylord.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1985 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1983 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1982 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1981 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1980 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1979 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1978 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1977 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1976 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1975 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1974 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1973 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1972 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1971 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1970 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1969 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1968 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1967 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1966 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1965 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1964 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1963 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 1962 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 1961 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1960 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1959 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
| 1958 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 1957 | 57 | 57 | 0 |
| 1956 | 81 | 81 | 0 |
| 1955 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 1954 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1953 | 86 | 86 | 0 |
| 1952 | 109 | 109 | 0 |
| 1951 | 91 | 91 | 0 |
| 1950 | 94 | 94 | 0 |
| 1949 | 120 | 120 | 0 |
| 1948 | 113 | 113 | 0 |
| 1947 | 120 | 120 | 0 |
| 1946 | 117 | 117 | 0 |
| 1945 | 116 | 116 | 0 |
| 1944 | 120 | 120 | 0 |
| 1943 | 146 | 146 | 0 |
| 1942 | 160 | 155 | 5 |
| 1941 | 136 | 136 | 0 |
| 1940 | 127 | 127 | 0 |
| 1939 | 124 | 124 | 0 |
| 1938 | 134 | 134 | 0 |
| 1937 | 114 | 114 | 0 |
| 1936 | 118 | 118 | 0 |
| 1935 | 109 | 109 | 0 |
| 1934 | 132 | 132 | 0 |
| 1933 | 96 | 96 | 0 |
| 1932 | 136 | 136 | 0 |
| 1931 | 168 | 168 | 0 |
| 1930 | 132 | 132 | 0 |
| 1929 | 109 | 109 | 0 |
| 1928 | 132 | 132 | 0 |
| 1927 | 134 | 134 | 0 |
| 1926 | 131 | 131 | 0 |
| 1925 | 112 | 112 | 0 |
| 1924 | 119 | 119 | 0 |
| 1923 | 128 | 128 | 0 |
| 1922 | 119 | 119 | 0 |
| 1921 | 113 | 113 | 0 |
| 1920 | 126 | 126 | 0 |
| 1919 | 110 | 110 | 0 |
| 1918 | 139 | 139 | 0 |
| 1917 | 107 | 107 | 0 |
| 1916 | 102 | 102 | 0 |
| 1915 | 109 | 109 | 0 |
| 1914 | 81 | 81 | 0 |
| 1913 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1912 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1911 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1910 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1909 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1908 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1907 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1906 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1905 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1904 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1903 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1902 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1901 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1900 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1899 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1898 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1897 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1895 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1892 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1891 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1889 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1887 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1885 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1882 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Gaylord (1980)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |