Bud

♂ Boy

Pronounced BUD /ˈbʌd/High

Meaning: From the English term of endearment bud/buddy, 'a friend; a brother; a pal'; also a short form of names like BuddLow

In 30 seconds: A friend; a brother; a buddy: Bud is a friendly English nickname. Warm, homey, and easygoing.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningFrom the English term of endearment bud/buddy, 'a friend; a brother; a pal'; also a short form of names like Budd

U.S. rank (2025)#6870 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births12 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1928

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,501

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

Bud comes from the English term of endearment bud/buddy, 'a friend; a brother; a pal' — also a short form of names like Budd. A warm, homey nickname-name with a mid-century, all-American feel. A friendly name (said 'BUD').

In the U.S. it peaked mid-century. Rare today, a-friend-and-a-brother at the root, and homey.

Did you know? Bud comes from the English term of endearment bud/buddy, 'a friend; a brother; a pal' — a warm, homey nickname-name (said 'BUD').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Bud — nickname origin

Variations

BuddBuddy

Nicknames

Buddy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bud…

Buddy— a fellow spelling

Bo— a sound-neighbor short friendly boys' name

Gus— a companion homey boys' name

Hank— another homey boys' name

Explore names like Bud

By themeenglish nickname-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bud mean?

Bud is an English term of endearment — 'a friend; a brother; a pal'.

How do you pronounce Bud?

It's said BUD /ˈbʌd/ — one syllable.

Is Bud a boy or girl name?

Bud is a boy's name.

How popular is Bud?

Bud is a rare name in the U.S. today.