Holding steady.
Popularity of Buena since 1882
Babies named Buena per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1917, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Buena's real moment was 1893.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 40 |
| 1890s | 112 |
| 1900s | 101 |
| 1910s | 225 |
| 1920s | 238 |
| 1930s | 132 |
| 1940s | 88 |
| 1950s | 51 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Buena is a Spanish feminine name meaning 'good,' reflecting a classic virtue name tradition. Its recorded use in the United States dates back to at least 1882, though it never entered the top 1000 nationally. The name reached its peak year in 1893, after which its usage gradually declined. Over the past century, Buena has maintained a stable but extremely low frequency, with fewer than five births annually in recent years. The name is most commonly associated with early 20th-century Hispanic communities, though it did not concentrate heavily in any specific state. Today, Buena remains a rare choice, appealing to parents seeking a straightforward virtue name with Spanish roots.
Buena is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective 'bueno,' meaning 'good.' It was used as a given name in Spanish-speaking cultures, often as a short form of names like Buenaventura or as a virtue name. In the United States, it saw moderate use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in areas with Hispanic influence, before declining in popularity.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bue, Nena
Variants: Buenita
Sibling names for Buena
Names that share Buena's style, for a brother or sister.
