Nickname of unknown origin; associated with Hank Williams Jr.
Bocephus is a unique name famously used by country music legend Hank Williams as a nickname for his son, Hank Williams Jr. The elder Williams reportedly named him after a ventriloquist's dummy used by Rod Brasfield. While it has no established etymological root, it has become a symbol of country music heritage and Southern identity.
Fewer than 5 boys were named Bocephus in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Country music singer-songwriter famously nicknamed Bocephus by his father
