Buddy

A boys’ name of Modern American origin, meaning friend; informal term of endearment.

Babies a year
28
England and Wales, 2025
Rarity
Rare
among names in use
US popularity
—
outside the top 1000
UK popularity
#1066
28 babies

Buddy by the numbers

In 2025, 28 babies in England and Wales were named Buddy. In the US, 28 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.

For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in England and Wales than in the US.

Its American peak was 604 babies in 1935, so it is a 1930s name that has since fallen a long way.

Spelled almost the same

Other names in the records within a letter or two of Buddy. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.

  • Brodyditch or muddy place491 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Bradybroad, wide; a surname used as a given name1,737 in the US (2017)
  • Buffybuff-colored; diminutive of buffalo8 in the US (2017)
  • Busbyvillage in the bushes or thickets5 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Bodey20 in the US (2017)
  • Bowdy9 in the US (2017)

Other names that mean friendship

Like Buddy, each of these has friendship in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.

  • Dakotafriends; allies2,330 in the US (2017)
  • Edwinwealthy friend; prosperity and companionship1,027 in the US (2017)
  • Khalilfriend; one who is close128 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Marvinfamous friend483 in the US (2017)
  • Alvinnoble friend; elf friend432 in the US (2017)
  • Aldenold friend; from ald and wine425 in the US (2017)

Names about as common as Buddy

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