Buddy
Buddy is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Brother or close friend.
Origin and history
Buddy originated as an American English colloquial term of endearment, likely derived from 'brother'. It developed into a given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Although its popular usage as a formal birth name peaked in the mid-20th century, it remains a recognized traditional choice.
Popularity in the United States
22,540 babies in the United States have been named Buddy since 1880. It ranks #778 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1745.
States where it is most popular
- TX (12.1 %)
- CA (7.5 %)
- OK (7.5 %)
- TN (6.5 %)
- NC (6.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 33 |
| 1900-1910 | 121 |
| 1910-1920 | 604 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,912 |
| 1930-1940 | 5,104 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,000 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,449 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,744 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,889 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,291 |
| 1990-2000 | 583 |
| 2000-2010 | 357 |
| 2010-2019 | 271 |
| 2020-2029 | 182 |
Famous people named Buddy
- Buddy Holly: musician, singer
- Buddy Guy: musician, guitarist
Fun facts
- The word likely arose as a child's alteration of 'brother' or from the dialectal word 'butty' meaning companion.
- Buddy achieved its highest ranking in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.