Dewey

Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
"beloved"

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

Dewey Popularity

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

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"