Girl · #16,991 in 2026

Butterfly

Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterised by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossils have been dated to the Paleocene, about 56 million years ago, though molecular evidence suggests that they likely originated in the Cretaceous.

Current Rank
#16,991
Peak Rank
#15,782 (2003)
Total Babies
10
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2003
First Year
2010
Last Year
2003
Peak Year
#15782
Peak Rank
10
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Butterfly

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterised by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossils have been dated to the Paleocene, about 56 million years ago, though molecular evidence suggests that they likely originated in the Cretaceous.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Possibly the original butter-fly. A male brimstone ( Gonepteryx rhamni ) in flight. The Oxford English Dictionary derives the word straightforwardly from Old English butorflēoge , butter-fly; similar names in Old Dutch and Old High German show that the name is ancient, but modern Dutch and German use different words ( vlinder and Schmetterling ) and the common name often varies substantially between otherwise closely related languages. A possible source of the name is the bright yellow male of the brimstone ( Gonepteryx rhamni ); another is that butterflies were on the wing in meadows during t

The Story of Butterfly

Butterfly first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2003, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2003, when 5 Butterflys were born — ranking #15,782 that year. As of 2026, Butterfly ranks #16,991 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Butterflys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Butterfly

Phonetically similar names — useful when Butterfly is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Butterflies
  • Butterflys
  • Butterflied
  • Botfly
  • Barfly
  • Bitterly
  • Butterfish
  • Butterfield
  • Butterfat
  • Butterflying
  • Bitterful
  • Buttery

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Butterfly

What does the name Butterfly mean?
Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterised by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossils have been dated to the Paleocene, about 56 million years ago, though molecular evidence suggests that they likely originated in the Cretaceous.
How popular is Butterfly in 2026?
In 2026, Butterfly ranks #16,991 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Butterfly most popular?
Butterfly reached its peak popularity in 2003, ranking #15,782 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Butterfly a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Butterfly is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Butterfly?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Butterfly include Aanijah, Aaryona, Abbrianna. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Aanijah
Peak #15782
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Aaryona
Peak #15782
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Abbrianna
Peak #15782
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Abreonna
Peak #15782
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Addriana
Peak #15782
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Adji
Peak #15782
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Adlih
Peak #15782
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Afifah
Peak #15782

About the name Butterfly

Butterfly is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2003 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Butterfly's peak popularity came in 2003 when it ranked #15,782. Use the chart and map above to compare Butterfly's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.