Meaning: Its source is an English expression meaning "Brother."

Alternative Spellings: Bubba

Narrative: It is an American dialectical form of the English word ''Brother,'' most often used as a familiar nickname.

It is also considered a symbol of a particular American type. For instance, U.S. President Bill Clinton has been called this name by his detractors to draw attention to his roots in Arkansas, a state whose population is stereotyped as good-natured but backward.