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.
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
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.'
