Buffy

♀ Girl

Pronounced BUF-ee /ˈbʌf.i/High

Meaning: A nursery pet form of Elizabeth (Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath'), born from a small child's attempt at the name. It is inseparable now from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which we note honestly.Low

In 30 seconds: A cheerful pet form of Elizabeth, 'my God is an oath' — and forever tied to Buffy the Vampire Slayer (said 'BUF-ee').

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Origin MediumEnglish, Hebrew

MeaningA nursery pet form of Elizabeth (Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath'), born from a small child's attempt at the name. It is inseparable now from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which we note honestly.

U.S. rank (2024)#13737 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1972

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,306

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Buffy is a nursery pet form of Elizabeth (from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath'), the kind of name a toddler makes by mangling a long one. It featured on the sitcom Family Affair, then, from 1997, became famous through Buffy the Vampire Slayer — a strong association we note honestly. Bouncy and warm (said 'BUF-ee').

In the U.S. it appears rarely, most often as a nickname made official. Rare, playful, and pop-culture-marked.

Did you know? Buffy began as baby-talk for Elizabeth, then became a household word through Buffy the Vampire Slayer, whose heroine turned a fluffy nickname into a byword for grit — a link we note honestly (said 'BUF-ee').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Buffy — Elizabeth pet form; Buffy the Vampire Slayer association

Variations

BuffieBuffiElizabeth

Nicknames

BuffBee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Buffy…

Elizabeth— the full name Buffy shortens

Libby— a like sweet Elizabeth pet form

Brynlee— lands in the same popularity range

Bailee— shares Buffy's English roots

Baylee— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Buffy

By themeenglish nickname-name pop-culture playful

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Buffy mean?

Buffy is a pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath.'

How do you pronounce Buffy?

It's said BUF-ee /ˈbʌf.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Buffy a boy or girl name?

Buffy is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Buffy?

Buffy is rare in the U.S. and strongly associated with the TV heroine.