Bubba
Meaningbrother · English
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,318 in 1963
5 babies were named Bubba in the US in 2025. It has climbed 14 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1945–2025
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Bubba you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Bubba
Bubba Smith
American football player and actor (1945–2011)
Choose Bubba and your child shares a first name with Bubba Smith, an American football player and actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Bubba, like who?” Bubba Smith's Wikipedia article is available in 33 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Bubba Smith on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: J Feldman, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Bubba, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Bubba would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBubba first shows up in US birth records in 1945, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 80 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1963, when it ranked #1,318. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- MeaningIn English, Bubba means “brother”. Our records link it to American and German roots.
About the name Bubba
Bubba is a boy name of American and German origin meaning “brother”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with B and ending in “-bba”. US birth records list Bubba for boys from 1945 to 2025, in 41 of those 81 years. Its best year was 1963, when it ranked #1,318 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:American namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 1.5 | 684,932 boys |
| 1950s | 7.6 | 131,926 boys |
| 1960s | 9.7 | 103,199 boys |
| 1970s | 4.8 | 208,333 boys |
| 1980s | 2.0 | 490,196 boys |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,333,333 boys |
| 2020s | 2.2 | 451,128 boys |
More American boy names
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: Maverick · independent, unbranded
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Unisex name: Jace · healer
- Boy name: Jaxon · son of Jack
- Boy name: Milo · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Louis · famous warrior
Questions about the name Bubba
What does the name Bubba mean?
Bubba means “brother” in English.
What is the origin of the name Bubba?
Bubba has American, German roots in our records. Other American names include Henry, Maverick, Kai.
Is Bubba a boy or girl name?
Bubba is a boy name.
How popular is the name Bubba?
Bubba ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1963 (#1,318).