Voyle
A diminutive form of the French given name Vaultier, itself derived from the Germanic name Walter.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Voyle. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Voyle today is around 120 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Voyle births was 1918 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Voyle. 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 Voyle is about 120 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Voyles were born before 1916.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Voyle. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1918
10 babies that year
Average age
120
years old
1924 SSA rank
#4,934
Tracked since 1885
Popularity
Voyle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Voyle from the 1880s through to the 1920s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 39 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Voyle 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 Voyle 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 Voyle
The given name Voyle is believed to have originated from the Old English language, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "fylen," which means "to follow" or "to pursue." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with someone who was a follower or pursuer, perhaps in a military or hunting context.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Voyle can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. It mentions a landowner named Voyle de Wynchestre, indicating the use of the name in the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, there are records of a knight named Sir Voyle de Courtenay, who fought in the Crusades and was renowned for his bravery and loyalty. His name and deeds were documented in various chronicles and chronicles of the time, further solidifying the name's association with valor and dedication.
During the Renaissance period, Voyle Montague (1492-1567) was a prominent English scholar and theologian who wrote extensively on religious matters. His works were widely read and influential in shaping the intellectual discourse of his era.
In the 18th century, Voyle Humphreys (1718-1791) was a celebrated British architect known for his innovative designs and contributions to the Neoclassical style. Several of his buildings, including the renowned Kenwood House in London, are considered architectural masterpieces and are still standing today.
Another notable figure was Voyle Cussans (1837-1912), a British historian and genealogist who authored numerous books on the history and ancestry of various noble families in England. His meticulous research and comprehensive records have been invaluable resources for scholars and genealogists alike.
While the name Voyle may have fallen out of widespread use in recent times, its historical roots and the notable individuals who bore it have left an indelible mark on various fields, from warfare and architecture to literature and genealogy.
People
Voyle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Voyle as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Voyle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Voyle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Voyle 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Voyle a common name?
We classify Voyle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 54 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Voyle most popular?
The single biggest year for Voyle was 1918, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Voyle is about 120 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 Voyle in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Voyle a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Voyle 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 Voyle still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Voyle 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 Voyle 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 Voyle as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Voyle on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.