NameRealm
Buddy

Buddy: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“friend”
Origin
English
Say it
BUD-ee · 2 syllables
Used for
Boys

Buddy began as an English nickname and term of affection meaning 'friend' or 'companion'. It is sometimes used as a legal given name, especially in English-speaking contexts.

English namesAmerican namesNames meaning loveNames meaning joyModern names

How popular is Buddy?

20248.7 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Buddy in 202429

2024 rank#3,781 boys

Peak year1935

Total US babies since 188022,561

Buddy is steady now but far below its 1935 peak.

Names like Buddy

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • JackGod is gracious · English
  • Hudsonson of Hudd · English
  • Jacksonson of Jack · English
  • Cartercart driver · English
  • Wyattbrave in war · English
  • Maverickindependent person · English
  • Masonstoneworker · English
  • Graysonson of the steward · English

Buddy questions

What does the name Buddy mean?

Buddy means "friend". It comes from English. Buddy began as an English nickname and term of affection meaning 'friend' or 'companion'. It is sometimes used as a legal given name, especially in English-speaking contexts.

Is Buddy a boy or girl name?

Buddy is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Buddy?

29 US babies were named Buddy in 2024. Its peak year was 1935.

How do you pronounce Buddy?

Buddy is usually pronounced BUD-ee.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.