Buddy Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Buddy has its origins in American English, derived from the term for a friend or companion. It has evolved since the 19th century, maintaining its meaning of friendship. The name does not have biblical relevance, but it gained popularity as a given name in the late 19th century. Common variants include Bud and Buddie, and it is viewed positively in modern contexts, associated with friendliness and approachability.
The name Buddy is most popular in Oklahoma, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Buddy has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Buddy' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 554th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 263rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 399th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 578th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1005th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2912th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3773rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8598th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5907th out of 9204 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 18004th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Buddy' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Buddy"
Pronunciation
/ˈbʌdi/
Origin
American English
Etymology
The name Buddy is derived from the word 'buddy,' which means friend or companion. It is believed to have originated as a term of endearment in the 19th century.
Meaning
friend, companion
Language Evolution
Buddy (19th century), Bud (informal diminutive), Buddie (variant spelling)
Historical Usage
Buddy gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a friendly term and later became established as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Bud, Buddie, Budd
Modern Popularity & Image
Buddy is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and companionship.
Famous People
Buddy Holly, an influential American musician, Buddy Rich, a renowned American jazz drummer
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Buddy"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Buddy"
"Buddy" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 554th of 7545 | 2,021 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 263rd of 6773 | 8,267 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 399th of 7552 | 6,542 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 578th of 10718 | 3,121 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1005th of 16616 | 1,607 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2912th of 24088 | 572 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3773rd of 23106 | 343 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8598th of 9107 | 6 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5907th of 9204 | 33 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 18004th of 19264 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Buddy" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
41.45% 587th/1416 |
51.63% 712th/1379 |
18.77% 444th/2366 |
50.18% 573rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
17.21% 266th/1546 |
35.93% 559th/1556 |
8.75% 206th/2353 |
17.84% 276th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
19.80% 441st/2227 |
27.04% 657th/2430 |
11.36% 324th/2853 |
15.89% 441st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.39% 599th/2937 |
35.26% 1228th/3483 |
13.56% 477th/3518 |
16.74% 677th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
30.34% 1118th/3685 |
57.01% 2551st/4475 |
17.14% 890th/5194 |
22.00% 1390th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
46.07% 3369th/7313 |
37.52% 2800th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
58.47% 3989th/6822 |
71.13% 4464th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Buddy" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Buddy"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Buddy" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.