Buck

♂ Boy

Pronounced BUK /bʌk/High

Meaning: Male deer; a young man; from Old English bucca (male deer, billy goat) — a byname for a vigorous young manHigh

In 30 seconds: An Old English word name for a male deer or vigorous young man. Bold and one-syllable, Buck evokes the frontier West — associated with Buck Rogers (space hero), Buck Henry (screenwriter), and the American frontier spirit.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningMale deer; a young man; from Old English bucca (male deer, billy goat) — a byname for a vigorous young man

U.S. rank (2025)#1993 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births76 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1919

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,610

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

Buck comes from Old English bucca (a male deer, billy goat), used as a byname for a vigorous young man. In American currency slang, a 'buck' means a dollar (from buckskin, used as currency in early America). As a given name it evokes frontier America and robust masculinity.

Buck ranked #2472 for boys in 2024. It is used as a standalone name with Western American frontier associations.

Did you know? Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature — awarded in 1938 for The Good Earth. Her given name Pearl and surname Buck together create one of American literature's most memorable author names.

Overall data confidence 91%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BuckeyBucky

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Buck Owens (1929-2006)
American country singer-songwriter and Hee Haw co-host
★Buck Showalter (1956-)
American Major League Baseball manager
★Buck Henry (1930-2020)
American screenwriter and actor who co-wrote The Graduate

If you like Buck…

Ace— one-syllable bold American name with the same confident energy

Rex— one-syllable Latin name with the same masculine authority

Flint— one-syllable material nature name with the same rugged Western character

Dash— one-syllable action name with the same energetic American quality

Duke— one-syllable title name with the same American frontier boldness

Explore names like Buck

By themeenglish american nature one-syllable western

By meaningYouth

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Buck mean?

Buck means 'male deer' or 'vigorous young man,' from Old English bucca. The slang 'buck' for dollar comes from buckskin used as currency in early America.

How do you pronounce Buck?

It's said BUK /bʌk/ — one syllable, rhyming with 'luck.'

Is Buck a boy or girl name?

Buck is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Buck?

Buck ranked #2472 for U.S. boys in 2024.