Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Buddy
BoyEnglish· “friend, pal”
- Meaning
- friend, pal
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- BUD-ee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,418
- US babies 2025
- 23
- Best rank
- #202 (1935)
- Peak year
- 1935
Meaning and origin of Buddy
Buddy is an English name that means “friend, pal”.
Buddy is an American word for a friend or pal, probably from a child's pronunciation of "brother," and it was used as a nickname for boys before it became a given name. Many famous bearers are better known by it than by their legal names: the rock-and-roll pioneer Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley, and the drummer Buddy Rich was born Bernard Rich. The jazz cornetist Buddy Bolden also used it. It is said BUD-ee. The name has a relaxed, friendly character and is also a common name for dogs, which some parents find charming and others do not. Bud is the shorter form.
Other spellings with the same sound: Buddie.
Popularity over time
Buddy first appears in US Social Security records in 1893. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 90 different years, starting in 1894. Its best national rank was #202 in 1935, the same year it reached its highest count of 604 babies. In 2025, 23 babies were named Buddy, and it ranked #4,418 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #623 in 1920, #346 in 1950, #744 in 1980, #2,383 in 2000, #4,382 in 2010, and #4,418 in 2025. Of the 22,540 US boys named Buddy since records began, 23% were born in the 1930s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 4,000 babies. Since 2010, 453 more have been named Buddy.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Huey, Carroll, and Dick.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Buddy is usually pronounced BUD-ee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with B and ends in “-dy”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Buddie.
Middle names for Buddy
A few middle names that flow with Buddy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Buddy
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Lists that include Buddy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Buddy mean?
Buddy is an English name that means “friend, pal”.
What is the origin of the name Buddy?
Buddy has English roots. Buddy is an American word for a friend or pal, probably from a child's pronunciation of "brother," and it was used as a nickname for boys before it became a given name.
Is Buddy a popular name?
Not especially. Buddy ranked #4,418 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Buddy a boy or girl name?
Buddy is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Buddy?
Buddy is usually pronounced BUD-ee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings