Bud

I can imagine it on a cool young surfer guy, but it doesn't really work for me in any other context.

Reminds me of a redneck.

I am also reminded of a flower before it blooms, which in that case would make this a feminine name as well as masculine.

No thank you, not as a legal name. Am I the only one reminded of a flower before it blooms?

This is my best friend's brother's name... well, nickname actually. It seems to me that he was named after his grandfather, and they used Bud as an everyday nickname so that there wouldn't be any confusion. I must say, that while a part of me doesn't like this nickname, having known a Bud has really colored my opinion of this name for the better. While I wouldn't recommend it for a first name, it's doable as a nickname :)

This sounds ridiculous as a legal name, and it makes me think of Budweiser beer.

This makes me think of the word butt.

Like Buddy, this should only be used as a nickname. As a real name, the name is asinine and immature. This one actually sounds friendlier than Buddy, as Buddy is, by no means, always used as a term of affection.

Makes me think of beer and commercial father/son relationships. Not very good allusion in my opinion.

My father went by the nickname of Bud, in order to avoid confusion with his own father after whom he was named. Coincidentally, my maternal grandfather also went by Bud to avoid confusion with HIS father after whom HE was named. Maybe only because of this, I've always really liked this name. It makes me think of handsome, really nice guy. I only like it as nickname, though, not for a true given name.