Friend or brother
Originally used as a colloquial term of endearment, Buddy likely originated as a diminutive of the word brother or from the Middle English word 'budde', meaning a beetle or something thick. It transitioned from a common nickname to a formal given name in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States.
Less common today
Buddy isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #1,073 in 1990.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Pioneering rock and roll singer-songwriter
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