Butkai was formerly part of the German Empire. In the German Empire, the place was called Buttken.
The place is now called Butkai and belongs to Lithuania.
| Historical place name | Country | Administration | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttken | German Empire | Memel | before the Versailles Treaty |
| Butkai | Lithuania | Klaipėda | after the Versailles Treaty |
| Buttken | German Empire | Memel | 1939 |
| Butkai | Soviet Union | Priekulė/Prekule | 1945 |
| Butkaj | Soviet Union | Priekulė/Prekule | 1945 |
| Butkai | Lithuania | Gargždai | 1992 |