Boy · #6,723 in 2026

Bun

A bun is a type of bread that is round and small enough that it can generally be eaten hand-held. Whether a bun is considered sweetened or unsweetened differs between countries: it is considered sweetened in England, Scotland and Wales, a savory bread in Northern Ireland, and either a sweet bread or a savory bread roll in the United States.

Current Rank
#6,723
Peak Rank
#3,450 (1927)
Total Babies
22
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1892
First Year
1986
Last Year
1927
Peak Year
#3450
Peak Rank
22
Total Count
4
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Bun

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A bun is a type of bread that is round and small enough that it can generally be eaten hand-held. Whether a bun is considered sweetened or unsweetened differs between countries: it is considered sweetened in England, Scotland and Wales, a savory bread in Northern Ireland, and either a sweet bread or a savory bread roll in the United States.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The etymology of the word bun is unclear. The Oxford English Dictionary pins the earliest known use to 1371 in the Assize of Bread and Ale , a law of Medieval Europe in the form "bunne" where they identify the meaning as "doubtful", understood from the context simply to refer to a type of "loaf or cake". As of the 14th century in Japan, steamed buns stuffed with vegetables or the sweet yōkan were eaten by Buddhists. By the 16th century in Europe, spiced buns , commonly served with sweetened wines or ale were consumed as part of funeral customs.

The Story of Bun

Bun first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1892, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1927, when 7 Buns were born — ranking #3,450 that year. As of 2026, Bun ranks #6,723 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 22 Buns have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Bun

Phonetically similar names — useful when Bun is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bun

What does the name Bun mean?
A bun is a type of bread that is round and small enough that it can generally be eaten hand-held. Whether a bun is considered sweetened or unsweetened differs between countries: it is considered sweetened in England, Scotland and Wales, a savory bread in Northern Ireland, and either a sweet bread or a savory bread roll in the United States.
How popular is Bun in 2026?
In 2026, Bun ranks #6,723 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Bun most popular?
Bun reached its peak popularity in 1927, ranking #3,450 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Bun a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Bun is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Bun?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Bun include Ode, Bolden, Mendell. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Ode
Peak #3450
👦
Bolden
Peak #3450
👦
Mendell
Peak #3450
👦
Francisca
Peak #3450
👦
Clarnece
Peak #3450
👦
Hasting
Peak #3450
👦
Lockwood
Peak #3450
👦
Seikichi
Peak #3450

About the name Bun

Bun is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1892 and has accumulated 22 births in the dataset. Bun's peak popularity came in 1927 when it ranked #3,450. Use the chart and map above to compare Bun's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.