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"
"land of the Celtic people"
"pledge, oath, measure"
"western settlement"
"the Lord is salvation"
"gift from God"
"Spiritual refuge and inner peace"
"one who mows or cuts"
"strength, grace, given by God"
"northerner, man from the north"
"vigilant, watchful"
"beauty, handsomeness"
"Variant of Avian, bird-natured"
"son of Jack, God is gracious"
"dweller by the hedged forest"
"heroic, on a grand scale"
"beloved of God (if Dai- is from Welsh David)"
"divine gift (blended)"
"person with extraordinary talent"
"son of the gray-haired one"
"modern invented name (Dre + lyn blend)"
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.