Meaning & origin
How it developed
In English usage, Dandy as a surname is a diminutive of Andrew.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1949. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Dandy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 105
- 100 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 11 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 2014. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 11 in 1959. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 360 as a first name in 2020; 1,153 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.
Dandy’s family of names
In English usage, Dandy as a surname is a diminutive of Andrew. In English usage, Dandy as a surname has a related form in Andy.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Dandy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Darrel
“one who is dearly loved”
>99% boys
Darvin
“a beloved friend”
>99% boys
Derwin
“a friend of the deer; a gifted friend”
>99% boys
Dave
“Beloved” · “darling”
>99% boys
Dan
“he judged”
97% boys · 3% girls
Darryl
“one who is greatly loved” · “one who is dearly loved”
>99% boys
Darrell
“one who is dearly loved” · “one who is greatly loved”
>99% boys
Duane
“a dark or swarthy man”
>99% boys