Buck Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Buck' originated from the Old English word for 'male deer', reflecting qualities of liveliness and spirit. It has evolved from 'bucca' in Old English to its modern form. The name carries associations of ruggedness and is not linked to biblical texts. It gained popularity in the 19th century, with several variants like Buckley and Bucky. Notable individuals with this name include Buck Owens and Buckminster Fuller.
The name Buck is most popular in Oklahoma, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Buck has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Buck' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 632nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 843rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1110th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1006th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1509th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4513th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2771st out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Buck' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Buck"
Pronunciation
/bʌk/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name 'Buck' is derived from the Old English word 'bucca', which means 'male deer' or 'buck'. It was also used as a nickname for someone who was spirited or lively.
Meaning
male deer, spirited, lively
Language Evolution
Old English: bucca, Middle English: bucke, Modern English: Buck
Historical Usage
The name 'Buck' gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, often used as a surname and later as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Buckley, Buckingham, Bucky
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name 'Buck' is often associated with ruggedness and masculinity, frequently used in rural or outdoor contexts.
Famous People
Buck Owens, an American country singer, Buck Rogers, a fictional character in science fiction, Buckminster Fuller, an American architect and inventor
Explore More Buck Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Buck"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Buck"
"Buck" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 632nd of 7545 | 1,600 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 843rd of 6773 | 1,038 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1110th of 7552 | 869 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1006th of 10718 | 1,031 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1509th of 16616 | 846 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4513th of 24088 | 303 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2771st of 23106 | 538 |
Regional Popularity of "Buck" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
- |
19.53% 462nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
28.56% 672nd/2353 |
68.97% 1067th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
41.47% 1183rd/2853 |
30.85% 856th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
55.16% 1620th/2937 |
- |
29.56% 1040th/3518 |
22.77% 921st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
52.13% 1921st/3685 |
- |
27.97% 1453rd/5194 |
25.91% 1637th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
- | - |
63.81% 4762nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
64.48% 2569th/3984 |
- |
49.50% 3377th/6822 |
53.44% 3354th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Buck" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Buck"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Buck" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.