Bubba
A boy's name of Old English origin with 498 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The stereotypical white male; John Doe.
Bubba is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, an affectionate Southern American nickname meaning 'brother,' derived from baby-talk reduplication of the word 'brother.' It has been used as a standalone given name in the American South for generations.
Bubba is quintessentially Southern American — a name given with warmth and informality, implying brotherhood and community. U.S. President Bill Clinton was nicknamed Bubba growing up in Arkansas, and the lovable Bubba Blue from Forrest Gump (1994) gave the name endearing pop-culture immortality.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Bubba belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Old English naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Old English names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Bubba’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Bubba has 40+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1945.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 18 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 37 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 80 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 191 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 155 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 11 | — |
The Story of Bubba
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1963, Bubba is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Bubba are most likely born between 1953 and 1973.
How rare is Bubba?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Bubba is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1945, peaked in the 1960s with 191 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Bubba by the numbers
- Would fill 10 school buses
- Meeting one Bubba per day would take 1.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(40 years, 1945–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | #11030 |
| 2022 | 7 | #9991 |
| 2020 | 5 | #12324 |
| 1991 | 6 | #7384 |
| 1987 | 5 | #7093 |
| 1986 | 6 | #6026 |
| 1985 | 5 | #6657 |
| 1984 | 7 | #5035 |
| 1983 | 5 | #6365 |
| 1982 | 9 | #4271 |
| 1979 | 11 | #3593 |
| 1978 | 7 | #4613 |
| 1977 | 10 | #3636 |
| 1975 | 6 | #4864 |
| 1973 | 14 | #2618 |
| 1972 | 9 | #3380 |
| 1971 | 13 | #2694 |
| 1970 | 10 | #3097 |
| 1969 | 14 | #2325 |
| 1968 | 8 | #3135 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bubba a boy's or girl's name?
When was Bubba most popular?
How popular is the name Bubba?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1945–2023