Why do Americans refer to their sons as ‘buddy’ but not their daughters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about the term buddy makes it masculine? A girl can’t be your buddy?

Among the “greatest generation” and prior generations, Bud or Buddy was a nickname for Robert. My mom’s cousin who fought a Okinawa was called Bud or Buddy his whole life. It was a popular male nickname.

Googling indicates it also derives fro Scots or welsh who used it as a derivation of Brutha (brother), or that it relates to the word Booty (meaning treasure, spoils, a buddy being someone you share the booty with).

Historically ‘dude’ also referred to males but now it’s used for both girls and boys.

[Anonymous]

Ds is bud or buddy
Dd is sweetie.

[Anonymous]

They are from the south.

[Anonymous]

Lots of people with the pettiest complaints posting today. They are just itching for a fight !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t ‘buddy’ a gender neutral nickname so why is it just used for boys?

A pet peeve of mine in general.

It's not - your premise is faulty.

+1

There was a whole Atlantic article about how this was supposedly "toxic"

[Anonymous]

I grew up with an Uncle Bud. (real name Edwin). Sometimes I call my son buddy (or bubba, but that's another story), but not my daughter. (as an aside, my son actually looks a lot like my uncle.)

So to me, in my family, it's a male nickname.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are from the south.

I grew up in the south, in a relatively rural area, and no one called their kids this. I think of it as a relatively UMC/yuppie thing. I’ve only ever heard yuppie DMV parents call their kids (sons) this.

[Anonymous]

I use it for both my kids of opposite genders. But with me it's not a term of endearment, but rather that they are in trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about the term buddy makes it masculine? A girl can’t be your buddy?

Buddy is short for brother.

[Anonymous]

The word buddy is derived from the word brother and in the 1800s was a synonym for brother. It was the 1800s equivalent of "bro."

It then became a nickname for boys, as you might have a Junior and a Buddy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t ‘buddy’ a gender neutral nickname so why is it just used for boys?

A pet peeve of mine in general.

It's not - your premise is faulty.

+1

There was a whole Atlantic article about how this was supposedly "toxic"

Another overused word.

[Anonymous]

I think it's strange when parents call their daughters "sis" or "sister. "

[Anonymous]

What I don't get is southerners calling boys "Bubba".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ds is bud or buddy
Dd is sweetie.

Sweetheart seems a common term, even for strangers strangely.

[Anonymous]

My dad used to call me bud when I was a little girl and I HATED it.