Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Dewey
BoyWelsh, Hebrew· “from Dewi, Welsh form of David”
- Meaning
- from Dewi, Welsh form of David
- Origin
- Welsh, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- DOO-ee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,870
- US babies 2025
- 28
- Best rank
- #19 (1898)
- Peak year
- 1898
Meaning and origin of Dewey
Dewey is a Welsh and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “from Dewi, Welsh form of David”.
Dewey is an English and Welsh surname from Dewi, the Welsh form of David, which comes from the Hebrew for "beloved." Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, is known in Welsh as Dewi Sant. The surname was carried by the philosopher John Dewey, the librarian Melvil Dewey, who created the Dewey Decimal System, and Admiral George Dewey, a hero of the Spanish-American War. It is said DOO-ee. Dewi and David stand behind it.
Popularity over time
Dewey first appears in US Social Security records in 1887. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 99 different years, starting in 1887. Its best national rank was #19 in 1898, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,115 babies. In 2025, 28 babies were named Dewey, and it ranked #3,870 nationally. That is 65% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #208 in 1920, #340 in 1950, #758 in 1980, #2,820 in 2000, #4,719 in 2010, and #3,870 in 2025. Of the 34,373 US boys named Dewey since records began, 21% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 5,372 babies. Since 2010, 400 more have been named Dewey.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Dewey is usually pronounced DOO-ee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-ey”.
Middle names for Dewey
A few middle names that flow with Dewey: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dewey
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Lists that include Dewey
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dewey mean?
Dewey is a Welsh and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “from Dewi, Welsh form of David”.
What is the origin of the name Dewey?
Dewey has Welsh and Hebrew roots. Dewey is an English and Welsh surname from Dewi, the Welsh form of David, which comes from the Hebrew for "beloved." Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, is known in Welsh as Dewi Sant.
Is Dewey a popular name?
Not especially. Dewey ranked #3,870 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Dewey a boy or girl name?
Dewey is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Dewey?
Dewey is usually pronounced DOO-ee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings