Birchard
Of Old French origin, possibly meaning "bright" or "of high regard".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Birchard. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Birchard today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Birchard births was 1918 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Birchard. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Birchard. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1918
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1924 SSA rank
#4,420
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Birchard: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Birchard from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Birchard by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Birchard during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Birchard
The given name Birchard is believed to have originated from the Old English language. Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when the Anglo-Saxons settled in what is now known as England. The name is derived from the combination of two Old English words: "beorht" meaning "bright" and "hard" meaning "hardy" or "brave."
In the early medieval period, names were often chosen to reflect desired characteristics or aspirations for the child. The name Birchard may have been given to a child in the hope that they would possess a bright and courageous spirit. It was commonly used among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and aristocracy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Birchard can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Brichardus," which is believed to be an early spelling variation.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Birchard. One of the earliest was Birchard of Sens (c. 1100-1173), a French theologian and philosopher who played a significant role in the intellectual debates of his time. Another notable figure was Sir Birchard de Bury (c. 1290-1349), an English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was renowned for his bravery on the battlefield.
In the 16th century, Birchard Muffett (c. 1553-1604) was an English naturalist and physician who made significant contributions to the field of entomology. His work, "The Theatre of Insects," is considered one of the earliest comprehensive studies of insects in the English language.
During the 17th century, Birchard Bulkeley (1610-1659) was a Welsh Anglican clergyman and author who played a prominent role in the religious and political debates of his time. He was a staunch supporter of the Church of England and wrote several works defending its teachings and practices.
In the 19th century, Birchard Austin Hayes (1853-1926) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd Governor of Ohio from 1916 to 1917. He was known for his advocacy of progressive policies and his efforts to improve the state's infrastructure and education system.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have borne the name Birchard throughout history. While its usage has waned in modern times, the name remains a testament to its rich linguistic heritage and the aspirations of those who chose it for their children.
People
Birchard + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Birchard as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Birchard: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Birchard?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Birchard going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Birchard a common name?
We classify Birchard as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Birchard most popular?
The single biggest year for Birchard was 1918, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Birchard is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Birchard in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Birchard a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Birchard in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Birchard still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Birchard in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Birchard can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Birchard?
See how many people have the name Birchard on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.