Dewey

Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
"beloved"
icon / arrow-up76% this week

Dewey Origin and Meaning

The name Dewey is a boy's name of Welsh origin meaning "beloved".

Not heard since the 1980s, Dewey shot into the Top 20 in 1898 thanks to the popularity of Spanish-American War naval hero Admiral George Dewey. Dewey has subtle links to his Welsh roots and relation to father name David . The name was borne by the fifth century St. Dewi, patron saint of Wales. Later references include the namesake of the library Dewey Decimal System, a Donald Duck nephew, the younger brother on Malcolm in the Middle and Lemony Snicket character Dewey Denouement. It has a strong but dewy feel and is appealing enough to be ripe for a modern revival.

# 980 in the US

Dewey Rank in US Top 1000

0200400600800100018901900191019201930194019501960197019801986

Popularity of the name Dewey

20 Names Similar to Dewey

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Dewey.

Famous People Named Dewey

  • Thomas Edmund Dewey (1902
    1971), 47th governor of New York (1943,54)
  • Dewey Nicks
    photographer and film director (born George Dewey Nicks III)
  • Dewey Readmore Books
    a library cat from Spencer, Iowa who lived from 1987,2006

The name Dewey in Pop Culture

  • Dewey Denouement
    sub,sub,librarian, noble volunteer, triplet, and one of the managers of Hotel Denouement in "The Penultimate Peril" by Lemony Snicket
  • Dewey Finn
    main character in "School of Rock"
  • Dewey
    younger brother of Malcolm, Reese, and Francis in "Malcolm in the Middle"
  • Dewey Duck
    one of Donald Duck's nephews
  • Dewey Decimal System
    library cataloging/classification system
  • Dwight "Dewey" Riley
    character in the "Scream" franchise
  • Dewey Dell Bundren
    female character in William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying"

The name Dewey in Nameberry Forums