Dewey
Primarily a boy's name of Old French origin with 34,345 recorded births. Also given to 547 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Old French.
Dewey is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French origin, a surname possibly from the Old French dieu ('God') or from a Welsh diminutive of David meaning 'beloved.'
With over 34,000 recorded U.S. births, Dewey carries warm American nostalgia. U.S. Admiral George Dewey won the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898; the Dewey Decimal System (Melvil Dewey) organized the world's libraries; and Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle gave it a goofy, lovable charm. It's an underrated classic.
EtymologyShow more
Though Dewey dates back to 1887 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Old French classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Dewey’s 34,345 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by tens of thousands of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dewey was #2755 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3613, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 138 | #4016 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 233 | #4424 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 317 | #3219 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 492 | #1895 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 922 | #989 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 1,635 | #654 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 2,627 | #485 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 3,831 | #375 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 5,372 | #264 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 5,328 | #226 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 7,224 | #193 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 2,960 | #265 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 1,320 | #169 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 1,921 | #395 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 25 | #778 | — |
The Story of Dewey
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1898, Dewey is a name steeped in history. Boys named Dewey are most likely born between 1888 and 1908.
How rare is Dewey?
Only about 1 in every 116,129 babies born in 2024 was named Dewey — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1887, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 7,224 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dewey by the numbers
- More Deweys than the population of a small U.S. town
- Would fill 716 school buses
- Meeting one Dewey per day would take 94.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(138 years, 1887–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31 | #3613 |
| 2023 | 23 | #4489 |
| 2022 | 19 | #5072 |
| 2021 | 35 | #3313 |
| 2020 | 30 | #3591 |
| 2019 | 28 | #3823 |
| 2018 | 26 | #4020 |
| 2017 | 28 | #3799 |
| 2016 | 16 | #5612 |
| 2015 | 17 | #5352 |
| 2014 | 17 | #5302 |
| 2013 | 28 | #3684 |
| 2012 | 32 | #3395 |
| 2011 | 21 | #4538 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4719 |
| 2009 | 25 | #4065 |
| 2008 | 36 | #3176 |
| 2007 | 42 | #2830 |
| 2006 | 27 | #3706 |
| 2005 | 30 | #3336 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Dewey as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Dewey has also been given to 547 girls in the U.S. since 1897.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dewey a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dewey most popular?
How popular is the name Dewey?
Can Dewey be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1887–2024