Budd

A boy's name of Old English origin with 1,090 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A surname from Old English.

Budd is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English surname Budda or related to the Middle English budde (blossom, bud), suggesting a person who blossomed or a descendant of someone called Bud. As a given name, it carries the informal warmth of a buddy — a companion name.

Short, friendly, and unpretentious, Budd has the relaxed American charm of a name that sounds like a genuine nickname. Bing Crosby's real first name was Harry, but his nickname Bing — like Budd — belonged to the mid-century American tradition of one-syllable informal names that felt like a handshake.

EtymologyShow more

Budd first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.

Its Old English classification suggests a path from old english linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.

At a Glance

1,090

Total births

Since 1880

1923

Peak

34 births

1880

First recorded

111 years of data

Compare Budd with another name

Popularity Over Time

Budd has 81+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

First appeared: 1880Peak: 1923 (34 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Budd
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1990s	6	#7294	▼
1980s	46	#4718	—
1970s	50	#4740	▼
1960s	107	#2780	▼
1950s	143	#2164	▲
1940s	142	#2003	—
1930s	157	#1837	▼
1920s	226	#1654	▲
1910s	162	#1503	▲
1900s	6	#966	▼
1890s	11	#1027	▼
1880s	34	#790	—

The Story of Budd

A Greatest Generation name

Peaking in 1923, Budd is a name steeped in history. Boys named Budd are most likely born between 1913 and 1933.

How rare is Budd?

With 1,090 total births on record, Budd remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 226 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Budd by the numbers

Would fill 23 school buses
Meeting one Budd per day would take 3 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(81 years, 1880–1990)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Budd
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1990	6	#7294	-1 (-14.3%)
1989	7	#6301	-1 (-12.5%)
1988	8	#5253	0
1986	8	#4906	-4 (-33.3%)
1984	12	#3490	+1 (9.1%)
1980	11	#3640	+5 (83.3%)
1979	6	#5441	-2 (-25.0%)
1978	8	#4198	+3 (60.0%)
1976	5	#5708	0
1974	5	#5303	0
1973	5	#5195	-1 (-16.7%)
1972	6	#4501	-1 (-14.3%)
1971	7	#4013	-1 (-12.5%)
1970	8	#3558	+3 (60.0%)
1969	5	#4475	-2 (-28.6%)
1968	7	#3406	-4 (-36.4%)
1967	11	#2490	+1 (10.0%)
1966	10	#2645	-4 (-28.6%)
1965	14	#2191	-2 (-12.5%)
1964	16	#2048	+7 (77.8%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Budd a boy's or girl's name?

Budd is primarily a boy's name.

When was Budd most popular?

Budd reached its peak popularity in 1923 with 34 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Budd?

Budd is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 1,090 babies in the U.S. since 1880. Its peak was in 1923.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginOld English names By EndingNames in -d TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–1990