Given name & surname · also Arabic, French
Candy
“a queen”·“one who is white and glowing”
Candy is a form of Candace. Interpretations include “a queen” and “one who is white and glowing”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Candy is a form of Candace. Interpretations include “a queen” and “one who is white and glowing”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with French and Arabic naming traditions.
How it developed
In English usage, Candy is an affectionate form of Candace. In English usage, Candy is an affectionate form of Candice.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1896. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Candy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 28,625
- 100 boys · 28,525 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 1,044 babies
- 2025
- 30
- #4,576 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −21%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 30 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,576 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 21.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,044 in 1970. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 24,305 as a first name in 2020; 776 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.
Candy’s family of names
In English usage, Candy is an affectionate form of Candace. Candy is a form of Candida. Candy is a form of Candace.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Candacefull form · English
- Candicefull form · English
- Candyelikely variant
- Candeevariant
- Candievariant · English
- Candivariant · English
- Candiavariant · English
- Canndylikely variant
Show 5 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Candy
- Candy DulferDutch saxophonist and singerborn 1969
- Candy ClarkAmerican film and television actressborn 1947
- Candy DarlingAmerican actress (1944–1974)
- Candy ReynoldsAmerican tennis playerborn 1955
- Candy CostieAmerican synchronized swimmerborn 1963
- Candy HsuTaiwanese singer-songwriterborn 1998
- Candy LoHong Kong actress and singerborn 1974
- Candy JonesAmerican model, pin-up, writer and radio host (1925-1990)
- Candy CummingsAmerican baseball player (1848–1924)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Candy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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