Gaylord Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gaylord is an Old French name meaning joyful or lively. It has evolved through various forms, starting from 'Gaillard' in Old French to its current form in Modern English. The name embodies traits of cheerfulness and vitality, and it does not have biblical relevance. It saw a rise in popularity in the 19th century and is now viewed as somewhat outdated.
The name Gaylord is most popular in Nebraska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gaylord has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Gaylord' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 579th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 527th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 862nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2034th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6660th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24088th out of 24088 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Gaylord' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gaylord"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡeɪlɔːrd/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Gaylord is derived from the Old French term 'gaillard', which means 'lively' or 'joyful'. It may also be influenced by the Old French 'gailliard', meaning 'merry' or 'brave'.
Meaning
joyful, lively, merry
Language Evolution
Gaillard (Old French), Gaylord (Middle English), Gaylord (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Gaylord gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, particularly as a given name and surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Gay, Gail, Gaylor
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, the name Gaylord is considered somewhat old-fashioned and is less commonly used as a first name.
Famous People
Gaylord Perry (Baseball Hall of Famer), Gaylord Nelson (American politician and environmentalist)
Explore More Gaylord Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gaylord"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gaylord"
"Gaylord" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 579th of 7545 | 1,864 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 527th of 6773 | 2,304 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 862nd of 7552 | 1,411 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2034th of 10718 | 339 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6660th of 16616 | 86 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 24088th of 24088 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Gaylord" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
21.54% 305th/1416 |
44.53% 614th/1379 |
77.22% 1827th/2366 |
57.79% 660th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
19.47% 301st/1546 |
34.90% 543rd/1556 |
53.93% 1269th/2353 |
34.78% 538th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
27.75% 618th/2227 |
36.34% 883rd/2430 |
61.09% 1743rd/2853 |
27.32% 758th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
41.02% 1659th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gaylord" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gaylord"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gaylord" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.