The first name Buchanan
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /bjuˈkænən/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
A male given name transferred from the surname.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Buchanan at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 13 boys born in the United States were named Buchanan, the 6,514th most popular boys’ name that year.
101
babies named Buchanan since 1880
#6,514
rank in 2025
2025
peak year
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Buchannon
- Buchanon
Famous people named Buchanan
6 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- James Buchanan DukeAmerican businessman (1856–1925)
- James Buchanan EadsAmerican civil engineer (1820–1887)
- Thomas Buchanan ReadAmerican artist (1822-1872)
- Claud Buchanan TicehurstBritish ornithologist & surgeon (1881-1941)
- Gordon ParksAmerican photographer, musician, writer and film director (1912–2006)
- Charlie HickcoxAmerican swimmer (1947–2010)
Questions
- Is Buchanan a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 101 US babies named Buchanan since 1880 were boys.
- When was Buchanan most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 13 babies were named Buchanan, its highest rank at 6,514th.
- How do you pronounce Buchanan?
- Buchanan is /bjuˈkænən/, 3 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Buchanan?
- Buchannon and Buchanon.
- Is Buchanan also a surname?
- Yes. Buchanan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.