Bouvier
A French word meaning a cattle herder or herdsman.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Bouvier. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Bouvier today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bouvier births was 1963 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bouvier. 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
- • The typical person named Bouvier is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bouviers were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bouvier. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1963
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1963 SSA rank
#4,103
Tracked since 1963
Popularity
Bouvier: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Bouvier 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 Bouvier during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Bouvier
The given name Bouvier has its origins in the French language. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "bovier", which means an ox-herd or cowherd. This name can be traced back to the Middle Ages when it was commonly used to refer to individuals who worked as cow herders or tended to oxen.
In medieval times, the name Bouvier was particularly prevalent in regions of France where cattle farming and agriculture were prominent economic activities. It was a name that carried a sense of practicality and connection to the land, reflecting the occupation of those who bore it.
While there are no known references to the name Bouvier in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in historical records dating back to the 13th century. One notable example is Jean Bouvier, a French jurist and author who lived from 1292 to 1358. He served as the Bishop of Autun and is renowned for his influential work, "Somme Rurale", a comprehensive treatise on canon law and legal procedures.
Another historically significant figure bearing the name Bouvier was François Bouvier, a Swiss Protestant theologian and reformer born in 1497. He played a crucial role in the Reformation movement and was a close associate of John Calvin.
In the realm of literature, Jacques Bouvier de Fontenelle (1736-1811) was a French writer and philosopher who made significant contributions to the Enlightenment era. His works explored various subjects, including philosophy, science, and literature.
Moving forward in time, Léon Bouvier (1809-1876) was a French politician and journalist who served as a deputy in the National Assembly during the Third Republic. He was known for his advocacy of democratic principles and his criticisms of the Second Empire.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning Antoine Bouvier (1904-1989), a Swiss architect who played a pivotal role in the development of modern architecture in Switzerland. His notable works include the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne and the Cantonal Library and Archives in Fribourg.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the name Bouvier throughout history, spanning fields such as law, theology, literature, politics, and architecture.
People
Bouvier + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bouvier 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
Bouvier: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bouvier?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bouvier 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 1 in 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Bouvier a common name?
We classify Bouvier as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bouvier most popular?
The single biggest year for Bouvier was 1963, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bouvier is about 67 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 Bouvier in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bouvier a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bouvier 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 Bouvier still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bouvier 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 Bouvier 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 have the name Bouvier?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.