Buz
A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 29 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Only 29 babies have been named Buz in recorded U.S. history. That level of rarity means your child would almost certainly be the only one in their school, their workplace, and most rooms they walk into — a genuinely one-of-a-kind choice.
Buz is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Buz is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin whose precise meaning relates to 'contempt' or 'scorn' — from the Hebrew verb buz, meaning to hold as insignificant or to despise. In the Old Testament, Buz appears in Genesis 22:21 as the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, making him Abraham's nephew. The name also appears in Job 32:2, where Elihu is described as 'a Buzite,' a descendant of this biblical figure.
Names with difficult etymological meanings are not uncommon in the Hebrew Bible — the cultures that produced them understood names differently from how we do today, often as declarations of circumstance rather than aspirations. In the modern context, Buz reads simply as a striking monosyllable with an Old Testament pedigree. Rare, unambiguous in its pronunciation, and carrying genuine scriptural history for families who value that connection.
EtymologyShow more
Buz first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1951. Arriving in the 1950s, Buz appeared during a period when American naming was beginning to diversify beyond the traditional Anglo-Saxon and biblical pools.
Its Hebrew classification suggests a path from hebrew linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Buz has 5+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1951.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10 | #4130 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 19 | #3434 | — |
The Story of Buz
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1957, Buz is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Buz are most likely born between 1951 and 1963.
How rare is Buz?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Buz is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1951, peaked in the 1950s with 19 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(5 years, 1951–1963)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 5 | #4113 |
| 1961 | 5 | #4146 |
| 1957 | 8 | #3045 |
| 1953 | 6 | #3472 |
| 1951 | 5 | #3784 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1951–1963