Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1928

Bud

Meaning A male given name from English Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,870

A male given name from English.

Rank 2025
#6,870
among boys · ↓631 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
12
named Bud
How common
1 in 142,340
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1928
215 babies
All-time total
9,502
#1,241 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Bud popularity over time

9,502 babies have been named Bud since 1880, 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
0.130.250.380.518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1889Boys

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 401 40 – #233
1890s 359 36 -10% #246
1900s 340 34 -5% #325
1910s 1,202 120 +254% #349
1920s 1,882 188 +57% #410
1930s 1,512 151 -20% #390
1940s 993 99 -34% #602
1950s 1,096 110 +10% #637
1960s 677 68 -38% #715
1970s 341 34 -50% #1,294
1980s 361 36 +6% #1,379
1990s 147 15 -59% #2,377
2000s 50 5 -66% #6,152
2010s 75 8 +50% #6,404
2020s (to 2025) 66 11 +47% #6,195

The story of Bud

Bud is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,870 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 9,502 American babies have been named Bud. Its peak came in 1928, when 215 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Bud stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Bud?

The median living Bud is about 66 years old; half are between 49 and 75. An estimated 3,100 people named Bud are alive in the United States today.

median 66 020406080100

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

Bud year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 12 #6,870
2024 14 #6,239
2023 13 #6,597
2022 14 #6,195
2021 5 #12,440
2020 8 #8,870
2019 – –
2018 13 #6,404
2017 11 #7,173
2016 10 #7,684
2015 8 #8,868
2014 12 #6,702
2013 7 #9,804
2012 – –
2011 6 #11,023
2010 8 #8,923
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 12 #6,679
2006 13 #6,152
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 9 #7,318
2002 – –
2001 10 #6,522
2000 6 #9,241
1995 11 #5,168
1990 29 #2,377
1985 37 #1,673
1980 41 #1,499
1975 37 #1,456
1970 40 #1,315
1965 73 #859
1960 119 #715
1955 121 #663
1950 118 #637
1945 82 #664
1940 96 #602
1935 153 #458
1930 177 #441
1925 176 #455
1920 187 #444
1915 130 #488
1910 52 #354
1905 33 #361
1900 40 #343
1895 33 #317
1890 47 #246
1885 44 #248
1880 37 #277

Famous people named Bud

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

  1. 1 Bud Cort Bud Cort American actor and comedian (1948–2026) Contemporary
  2. 2 Bud Spencer Bud Spencer Italian actor, professional swimmer and water polo player (1929–2016) Contemporary
  3. 3 Bud Luckey Bud Luckey American cartoonist (1934–2018) Contemporary
  4. 4 Bud Powell Bud Powell American jazz pianist and composer (1924–1966) Contemporary
  5. 5 Bud Yorkin American producer, director, and screenwriter (1926–2015) Contemporary
  6. 6 Bud Jamison Bud Jamison American actor (1894–1944) 19th century
  7. 7 Bud Houser Bud Houser American shot putter and discus thrower 1901–1994 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Bud?

The median living Bud is about 66 years old. Half of all living Buds are between 49 and 75 years old.

How many people named Bud are alive today?

An estimated 3,100 people named Bud are alive in the United States, based on 9,502 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Bud mean?

A male given name from English.

How popular is the name Bud in 2025?

Bud ranked #6,870 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Bud?

9,502 babies have been named Bud in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bud most popular?

Bud peaked in 1928, when 215 newborns received the name.

Is Bud a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Bud rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Bud?

Well-known people named Bud include Bud Cort (actor), Bud Spencer (actor), Bud Luckey (actor).

Names like Bud

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

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