Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1963

Bubba

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #12,341
Rank 2025
#12,341
among boys
Babies in 2025
5
named Bubba
How common
1 in 341,615
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1963
35 babies
All-time total
503
#7,878 all-time among boys
First recorded
1945
in Social Security records

Bubba popularity over time

503 babies have been named Bubba since 1945, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1963Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s 11 1 – #3,026
1950s 155 16 +1309% #1,562
1960s 191 19 +23% #1,321
1970s 80 8 -58% #2,619
1980s 37 4 -54% #4,271
1990s 6 1 -84% #7,384
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) 23 4 – #9,994

The story of Bubba

Bubba is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #12,341 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1945, 503 American babies have been named Bubba. Its peak came in 1963, when 35 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bubba stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Bubba?

The median living Bubba is about 62 years old; half are between 52 and 66. An estimated 400 people named Bubba are alive in the United States today.

median 62 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Bubba year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 5 #12,341
2024 – –
2023 6 #11,041
2022 7 #9,994
2021 – –
2020 5 #12,332
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 5 #6,657
1980 – –
1975 6 #4,864
1970 10 #3,097
1965 20 #1,778
1960 24 #1,660
1955 13 #2,228
1950 11 #2,329
1945 6 #3,026
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Bubba

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Bubba Smith Bubba Smith American actor and athlete (1945–2011) Contemporary
  2. 2 Bubba Watson Bubba Watson American professional golfer (born 1978) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Bubba, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Bubba?

The median living Bubba is about 62 years old. Half of all living Bubbas are between 52 and 66 years old.

How many people named Bubba are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Bubba are alive in the United States, based on 503 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Bubba in 2025?

Bubba ranked #12,341 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Bubba?

503 babies have been named Bubba in the United States since 1945, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bubba most popular?

Bubba peaked in 1963, when 35 newborns received the name.

Is Bubba a boy or girl name?

Bubba is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Bubba rising or falling?

Bubba is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Bubba?

Well-known people named Bubba include Bubba Smith (actor), Bubba Watson (golfer).

Names like Bubba

Names that sound and feel close to Bubba: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Bubba with similar names → More names starting with B →