Dewey Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Dewey is a name of Old English origin, meaning 'beloved'. It evolved from the Old English name 'Dewi' and has historical significance due to its association with notable individuals, especially in education. The name is not linked to biblical texts and has a friendly, nostalgic image in modern usage.
The name Dewey is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation 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, Dewey has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Dewey' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 212th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 232nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 371st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 601st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1230th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3174th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4158th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2569th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3060th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8881st out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Dewey' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dewey"
Pronunciation
/ˈdjuːi/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Dewey is derived from the Old English name 'Dewi', which means 'beloved'. It is also linked to the Welsh name 'Dewi', the name of the patron saint of Wales.
Meaning
beloved
Language Evolution
Dewi (Old English/Old Welsh), Dewey (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Dewey gained popularity in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly due to the influence of notable figures such as the American educator John Dewey.
Variants & Derivatives
Dew, Dewy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Dewey is seen as somewhat nostalgic and is less common than it once was. It carries a friendly and approachable image.
Famous People
John Dewey, an influential American philosopher and educator, Dewey Cox, a fictional character in the musical film 'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story'
Explore More Dewey Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dewey"
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 "Dewey"
"Dewey" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 212th of 7545 | 9,850 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 232nd of 6773 | 9,858 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 371st of 7552 | 7,454 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 601st of 10718 | 2,925 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1230th of 16616 | 1,163 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3174th of 24088 | 506 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4158th of 23106 | 298 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2569th of 9107 | 214 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3060th of 9204 | 160 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8881st of 12526 | 23 |
Regional Popularity of "Dewey" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
20.48% 290th/1416 |
35.68% 492nd/1379 |
5.75% 136th/2366 |
34.50% 394th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
18.50% 286th/1546 |
29.88% 465th/1556 |
7.10% 167th/2353 |
25.92% 401st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
18.99% 423rd/2227 |
24.86% 604th/2430 |
10.23% 292nd/2853 |
20.07% 557th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
21.55% 633rd/2937 |
35.14% 1224th/3483 |
12.99% 457th/3518 |
21.76% 880th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
44.10% 1625th/3685 |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
19.31% 1003rd/5194 |
39.51% 2496th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
42.77% 3128th/7313 |
63.81% 4762nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dewey" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
100.00% 2366th/2366 |
- |
| 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) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dewey"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dewey" 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.