Dewey
Dewey was the 3870th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 28 babies. Its best year was 1898, when it ranked 19th with 1,115 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,482 places. More babies were named Dewey in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · French, Welsh
Say it DOO-ee /ˈdui/
- Rank in 2025
- #3,870 boys, down 276 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 28boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 18981,115 babies
- Total since 1880
- 34,920babies recorded
What does the name Dewey mean?
Dewey is a surname of uncertain origin. Wiktionary suggests it may come from the town of Douai in northern France, and mentions a proposed Welsh origin from Dewi, the Welsh form of David ("beloved"). As a first name it is American; it peaked in 1898, when Admiral George Dewey won the Battle of Manila Bay, and Wiktionary calls it a name of 1890s American usage.
Douai (French, “town in northern France”)Dewi (Welsh, “David”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two origins are proposed for the surname (Douai or Welsh Dewi).
Related names: Dewi, David, Duey.
See also: French names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Dewey', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Dewey (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Dewey popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 547 since 1897.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,870 | 28 |
| 2020 | #3,594 | 30 |
| 2010 | #4,719 | 20 |
| 2000 | #2,820 | 32 |
| 1990 | #1,386 | 65 |
| 1980 | #758 | 134 |
| 1970 | #535 | 228 |
| 1960 | #452 | 318 |
| 1950 | #340 | 393 |
| 1940 | #229 | 542 |
| 1930 | #205 | 653 |
| 1920 | #208 | 619 |
| 1910 | #261 | 87 |
| 1900 | #75 | 345 |
| 1890 | #464 | 16 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Dewey, counting every spelling?
Dewey has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Dewey?
28 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Dewey (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Dewey born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 298 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Dewey.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Dewey?
About 11,100 people born in the US named Dewey are alive today, with a median age of 66; half are between 52 and 77. That makes Dewey a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Dewey: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Dewey, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Dewey · Sibling names for Dewey
Questions about the name Dewey
What does Dewey mean?
The origin of Dewey is uncertain: two origins are proposed for the surname (Douai or Welsh Dewi).
How popular is the name Dewey?
Dewey was the 3870th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 28 babies. Its best year was 1898, when it ranked 19th with 1,115 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,482 places. More babies were named Dewey in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Dewey a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Dewey in the US.