Bud
A male given name from English.
Every Bud since 1880 — 9,502 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Bud Spencer Actor · 1929–2016
- Bud Powell Musician · 1924–1966
- Bud Cort Actor · b. 1948
- Bud Luckey Actor · 1934–2018
- Bud Houser Athlete · 1901–1994
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 Spencer (actor), Bud Powell (musician), Bud Cort (actor).