Gaylord

Gaylord is a masculine given name and a surname, and it is also used as a place name and as a brand in the hospitality industry. The name is of English-language origin, ultimately derived from the Old French Gaillard, and has historically carried connotations of liveliness or gallantry. It gained some popularity in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, though it is relatively uncommon today.

Notable people with the given name include Gaylord Nelson (1907–1995), an American politician who served as governor of Wisconsin and as a United States senator; he championed environmental protection and helped inspire Earth Day. Another is Gaylord Perry (1938–2022), a Major League Baseball pitcher and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, known for a long, productive career.

Geography: There are places named Gaylord in the United States, with Gaylord, Michigan being the best known, as a city in Otsego County. The name appears in other localities and in street names as well.

Business and culture: Gaylord Hotels is a brand of large convention-focused hotels owned by Marriott International. Notable properties include Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Gaylord Palms in the Greater Orlando area, and Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland.

See also: Variants of the name such as Gaillard and other related forms. The term remains primarily a name rather than a common noun in contemporary usage.