Bode

BOE-duh, BOE-dee, BODE; bod-EE
German, Yoruba
"order, command; return"

Bode Origin and Meaning

The name Bode is a boy's name of American origin meaning "order, command; return".

Bode is a short and sharp name that has been on and off the US charts since the mid-2000s. Similar to on-trend choices such as Brooks, Beau, Boone, Brody, and Bodhi, Bode suffers a little, perhaps because it might be read as the word "bode" , as in "that doesn't bode well", and because it has several acceptable pronunciations.

Deriving from the Germanic name Bodo, which ultimately comes from the Old German and Old Saxon elements bot and bod, Bode has a strong, commanding meaning, without feeling overbearing. It is linked to a 7th century saint, and more recently, to American skier Bode Miller - who says his name as BOE-dee.

Another possible origin of Bode is from the Yoruba name Olabode, meaning "wealth returns" or any other Yoruba name ending with the bode element. In this case, it would be pronounced as bod-EE. Nigerian writer Bode Sowande and aristocratic Nigerian statesman, Chief Bode Thomas are notable bearers.

Given to around 200 boys in the US each year, Bode could work as an alternative to Bodhi, though the spelling Bodie is currently more familiar in both the States and the UK.

# 960 in the US

Bode Rank in US Top 1000

# 354 on Nameberry

Bode Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Bode Popularity

Famous People Named Bode

  • (Samuel) Bode Miller
    American Olympic alpine skier
  • Bode Baffert (b. 2004)
    son of horse racing trainer Bob Baffert
  • Bode Badger (b. 2013)
    son of model Monika Schnarre and Storey Badger
  • Bode Greinke (b. 2015)
    son of baseball player Zack Greinke
  • Samuel Bode Nathaniel Miller
    McKenna, son of Bode Miller & Sara McKenna
  • Bode James Roloff (b. 2020)
    son of reality tv personalities Jeremy and Audrey Roloff from “Little People, Big World”

Bode in Pop Culture

  • Bode Locke
    character in Locke and Key comics