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Bodie

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOH-dee /ˈboʊdi/High

Meaning: Shelter; also used as a variant of Bodhi (awakening)Medium

In 30 seconds: A sunny, laid-back name that straddles the Old Norse surname Bodie and the Sanskrit Bodhi meaning 'awakening.' Bodie is breezy and approachable — it sounds like a name for someone who surfs at sunrise and greets the day with joy.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Sanskrit
MeaningShelter; also used as a variant of Bodhi (awakening)
U.S. rank (2025)#275 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,249 boys (0.07% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 8,587

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519202025

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

History & Origin

Bodie has two possible origins. As a surname, it derives from Old Norse or Old English, possibly related to bodi (messenger) or bold (shelter, dwelling). Alternatively, Bodie is often used as a spelling variant of the Sanskrit Bodhi (awakening, enlightenment). The ghost town of Bodie, California (established 1876) added an American frontier dimension to the name.

As a given name, Bodie gained momentum in the 21st century, appealing to parents who liked the sound of Bodhi but preferred the more anglicised spelling. It entered the U.S. top 500 for boys by the mid-2020s and shares the same laid-back, nature-connected energy as its cognate.

Did you know? Bodie, California, is one of America's best-preserved ghost towns — a former gold-rush boomtown whose name has given Bodie a frontier, wide-open-spaces mystique.
Overall data confidence 72%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BodhiBodeBodi

Nicknames

Bo

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If you like Bodie…

Bodhi— the Sanskrit spelling variant sharing the same sound and awakening meaning
Bode— similar-sounding name with the same breezy two-syllable energy
Jett— short, energetic surname name with the same cool, modern confidence
Rio— two-syllable nature name with the same free-spirited, sunlit character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bodie mean?

Bodie has uncertain origins — it may derive from Old Norse meaning 'shelter' or 'messenger,' or it is used as an anglicised spelling of Sanskrit Bodhi (awakening).

How do you pronounce Bodie?

It is said BOH-dee /ˈboʊdi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bodie a boy or girl name?

Bodie is used predominantly as a boys' name.

How popular is Bodie?

Bodie entered the U.S. top 500 for boys in the mid-2020s.