Laird Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Laird' has Scottish origins and means landowner or lord. It evolved from Old Norse through Middle English to its current form. It reflects traits of nobility and landownership, with no biblical relevance. Historically, it gained popularity in medieval Scotland and has notable figures associated with it.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Laird"
Pronunciation
/lɛrd/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name 'Laird' is derived from the Scots term for a landowner or lord, originating from the Old Norse word 'lǫgðr', meaning 'lord'.
Meaning
landowner, lord
Language Evolution
Old Norse: lǫgðr, Middle English: laird, Modern English: laird
Historical Usage
The term gained popularity in Scotland during the medieval period as a designation for landowners and was commonly used throughout the Scottish Highlands.
Variants & Derivatives
Lairdy, Lairdson
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Laird is seen as a traditional Scottish name that evokes images of nobility and landownership, though it is less commonly used in modern times.
Famous People
Laird Hamilton - an American big-wave surfer and co-founder of the water sports company, 'Laird Superfood'., Laird Cregar - an American actor known for his roles in classic films during the 1940s.
📊 Laird Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Laird Name Visualizations
✨ Laird Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 48 peak births in 2006
Geographic Spread
Popular across 7 US states, with strongest presence in Pennsylvania
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Laird"
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 "Laird"
"Laird" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2181st of 7545 | 221 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1564th of 6773 | 367 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1303rd of 7552 | 667 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2692nd of 10718 | 216 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 7890th of 16616 | 60 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4942nd of 24088 | 267 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8635th of 23106 | 98 |
Regional Popularity of "Laird" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
58.23% 803rd/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
60.41% 934th/1546 |
51.16% 796th/1556 |
- |
64.71% 1001st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
47.33% 1054th/2227 |
42.72% 1038th/2430 |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
38.41% 1066th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
36.42% 2718th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Laird" 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 "Laird"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Laird" 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.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Laird" in the United States
The name Laird is most popular in Pennsylvania, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Laird 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, 'Laird' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2181st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1564th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1303rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2692nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7890th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4942nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8635th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Laird' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.