Rising since 1999, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Bowdy since 1993
Babies named Bowdy per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 48 |
| 2010s | 59 |
| 2020s | 39 |
Meaning & origin
Bowdy is a modern boy's name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1993. Since 1999, its usage has been on a steady upward trajectory, reaching a peak rank of 7,194 in 2025, where it was given to about 1 in every 155,280 newborn boys. The name is a stylistic variant of Bodie, which itself may draw from surname origins. Bowdy's rise reflects a broader trend of surname-style and phonetically appealing names gaining favor in recent decades. While it has not yet appeared among any specific state's top names, its consistent growth suggests a small but dedicated following.
Bowdy is a modern American coinage, first recorded in 1993. It likely emerged as a respelling of Bodie, itself a transferred use of an English surname. The surname Bodie has multiple possible origins, including a Gaelic nickname meaning 'yellow-haired' or a locative name from the place Boddie in Scotland. However, direct evidence linking Bowdy to these origins is lacking, so the name is best considered a fashionable invention.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Bowdy
Names that share Bowdy's style, for a brother or sister.
