Bud sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Buddy, Budd, and Cud are the closest matches by sound. Most share Bud's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"brother, friend"
"bought land, purchased territory"
"healer, one who heals"
"bear of the gods"
"dweller by the hedged forest"
"great one (from Korean Tae root)"
"God is gracious (via Scandinavian John-family)"
"distinguished one"
"little red one"
"modern invented name"
"bright, splendid"
"from Brittany, land of the Britons"
"may God protect"
"noble, exalted, lofty"
"thankful, God has heard"
"vigilant, watchful"
"one who gives victory"
"moonlit, luminous"
"supplanter, held by the heel"
"young"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Bud — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have American English informal origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Bud.
Rhythm: Bud is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.