Given name & surname
Brandy
“a woman wielding a sword; an alcoholic drink”
Brandy is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “a woman wielding a sword; an alcoholic drink.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “a woman wielding a sword; an alcoholic drink.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1942. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Brandy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 108,861
- 2,302 boys · 106,559 girls
- Most popular year
- 1981
- 6,963 babies
- 2025
- 58
- #3,072 for girls · #12,310 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −22%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 13% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 53 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,072 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 20.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6,898 in 1981. It also appeared in 5 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 92,449 as a first name in 2020; 1,115 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Brandy’s family of names
In English usage, Brandy has a related form in Brandi. In English usage, Brandy has a related form in Brandi. Brandy has a related form in Brandie.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 22
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Brandy
- Brandy NorwoodAmerican singer, songwriter and actress (born 1979)
- Brandy LedfordAmerican actress and modelborn 1969
- Brandy ClarkAmerican singer-songwriterborn 1977
- Brandy ReedAmerican basketball player (born 1977)
- Brandy JohnsonAmerican gymnastborn 1973
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Brandy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Randi
“the wolf shield” · “lustful”
1% boys · 99% girls
Mindy
“one who is sweet and gentle” · “one who is worthy of admiration”
>99% girls
Mandy
“one who is much loved”
>99% girls
Brook
“from the running stream”
26% boys · 74% girls
Afton
“from the Afton river”
16% boys · 84% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Brittany
“a woman from Great Britain”
>99% girls
Misty
“covered with dew; of the mists”
>99% girls