Candy Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Candy has its roots in Latin, deriving from the word for 'reed' and evolving into a term associated with sweet treats. It conveys a meaning of sweetness and has seen various historical forms. The name is often linked to a cheerful personality and lacks biblical significance. Over time, it gained popularity in the 19th century alongside the rise of confectionery culture.
The name Candy is most popular in Indiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Candy has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Candy' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6723rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5274th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10839th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5270th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1421st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 379th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 354th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 838th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1883rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3479th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Candy' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Candy"
Pronunciation
/ˈkændi/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name 'Candy' originates from the Latin word 'canna,' which means 'reed' and later became associated with the sweet confections made from sugar.
Meaning
sweet, confection
Language Evolution
Canna (Latin), Candia (Old French), Candy (English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century as a term for sweet confections and later became used as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Candace, Candie, Candi
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Candy is often associated with sweetness and playfulness, and it is commonly viewed as a cheerful and light-hearted name.
Famous People
Candy Crowley, Candy Spelling, Candy Dulfer
Explore More Candy Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Candy"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Candy"
"Candy" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6723rd of 7552 | 10 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5274th of 10718 | 59 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10839th of 16616 | 26 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5270th of 9107 | 45 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1421st of 9204 | 539 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 379th of 12526 | 11,063 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 354th of 19264 | 11,040 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 838th of 27321 | 3,604 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1883rd of 35406 | 1,656 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3479th of 30306 | 543 |
Regional Popularity of "Candy" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Candy" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
62.87% 972nd/1546 |
61.31% 954th/1556 |
70.42% 1657th/2353 |
46.99% 727th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
13.25% 295th/2227 |
17.61% 428th/2430 |
16.09% 459th/2853 |
11.60% 322nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
10.45% 307th/2937 |
13.70% 477th/3483 |
8.56% 301st/3518 |
10.06% 407th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
24.29% 895th/3685 |
27.37% 1225th/4475 |
13.63% 708th/5194 |
11.60% 733rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
58.40% 2676th/4582 |
50.37% 2601st/5164 |
26.49% 1937th/7313 |
16.84% 1257th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
100.00% 3984th/3984 |
- |
46.63% 3181st/6822 |
35.34% 2218th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Candy"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Candy" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.