What was Buffalo Bill’s real name?

Buffalo Bill’s real name was William F. Cody.

Born in Iowa in 1846, Cody became famous through a series of frontier occupations and later through highly publicized stories about his life. His nickname reportedly came from supplying buffalo meat to workers on the Kansas Pacific Railway, although the details of the story were later embellished. He also worked as a scout, hunter, and Army guide.

Cody’s greatest fame came from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, a touring show that opened in 1883. It presented staged battles, riding demonstrations, marksmanship, and performers such as Annie Oakley. The production helped create popular images of the American frontier for audiences in the United States and Europe.

People sometimes confuse Buffalo Bill with Kit Carson or Billy the Kid because all three became famous through frontier legends. Cody, however, was a historical showman as well as a scout, and his public persona was shaped heavily by entertainment.