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[Opinions] Bud as a nickname
My father was named Joseph Anthony Jr, and to differentiate him from his father, he was called Buddy as a child, which became Bud as an adult.Coincidentally, my maternal grandfather, who was named Byram Stanley Jr, was also called Bud to differentiate him from his father.Both were called Bud throughout their lives and never by their given names.My daughter told her husband that she would consider calling a son Bud also, as a way to honor her grandfather. My son-in-law replied that he didn't want to do so, because Bud is redneck!I was mightily insulted. I love Bud as a nickname, and it never occurred to me that it's redneck, and my father and grandfather were very far from being rednecks.Then I did a poll on this site asking whether or not it was redneck, and twenty-six people said yes, while only thirteen said no!What do you think about Bud as a nickname?I admit I'm a little sensitive about this, but don't worry, I'm preparing myself for negative opinions. I don't think it's right to ask for an opinion and then argue about it, so feel free to be honest. I'm just curious about it, because it seems the popular perception of this nickname is so far from my experience with it.
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Why not Buddy? I knew a guy in high school named Buddy. That was his actual name.
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I know an Earl called Bud who is African-American, so it doesn't seem rednecky to me at all really, and more of an African-American name. I know of 2 African American people by this name, and no white people. I think it's fine, as long as he has a full name to use in formal situations.
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I had a cousin called Bud. His name was actually Campbell (his mother's maiden name) but was absolutely never called that.Sometimes Buddo.
Redneck? Don't know, ..though I know what the term means, it's not really used in my area. (Well, it wouldn't be, would it, as I'm in a French-speaking area.Cou-rouge?)
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I understand where people are coming from when they say ud is a redneck name as it has ben associated with cowboys in a lot of stories and movies. I personally am not a fan of it but do not see any reason not to use the nn Bud because a name really does nothing to determine personality, and I think that Buddy is a nice nickname. Maybe if she called a son Buddy when he was young his father wouldn't notice and would end up calling him Bud later on.
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I don't know if it's redneck-y, but it's the kind of name I'd imagine on a cowboy in a western movie, I have trouble seeing it on a real child. I guess if it's a family tradition, and the name would be used only by close family it wouldn't be so bad.
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my cat is named Bud!He came from a plant nursery called Best Buds, so that's why we called him that.For people I think Bud is a tad redneck. OR not so much redneck as extremely informal. If I used it at all witha person, it would be strictly informal, the same way I might call a good friend or relative Girl, Sis, Dude or Bro. (I personally very rarely use those terms, but I think you get what I'm saying.) I would not like to see a professional man using Bud as his work name. Even a gas jockey, I'd rather he just went by Jeff or Bill or David.
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As cute as it sounds... in this day and age, it sounds more like a pet's name than a child's name. However, my husband is constantly saying, "Hey Buddy" to our 15 month old son... I do not consider it his nn as there are other nns we call him, but rather a term of endearment. As I was writing this... a light just went on for me regarding Bud... it sounds like a term of endearment rather than a nn or fn... if that makes any sense.I don't understand why, if your SIL opposes this name as a fn, if he wouldn't mind your daughter calling her son Bud as a nn. Would he have a problem with that? It may not seem like a natural nn now, but in time when you start to wrestle and play with the boy... it does seem rather natural to call him that... I find myself doing the same thing with our son now that he is more active... but it would have seemed too odd while he was just a baby.
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My daughter did mean to use Bud as a nickname for a son, not his true given name. She thought of giving a different name for his birth certificate, and calling him Bud. My son-in-law still objected to that.I realize now that I wasn't very clear about that.
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I am sure the nickname doesn't reflect anything bad about your family. However, I have to agree that it sounds... yes, you could call it redneck. It sounds similar to "Bubba" and such, and it is part of the name of a brand of beer.
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