Declining since 1985, #3,067 for girls today.
Popularity of Brandy since 1942
Babies named Brandy per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 64 |
| 1950s | 202 |
| 1960s | 1,242 |
| 1970s | 40,070 |
| 1980s | 44,527 |
| 1990s | 14,909 |
| 2000s | 4,254 |
| 2010s | 998 |
| 2020s | 293 |
Meaning & origin
Brandy is a 20th-century American coinage from the spirit drink, first recorded in the U.S. in 1942. Its popularity surged in the 1970s, reaching its peak rank in 1978, before entering a long decline beginning around 1985. By 2025, it ranked 3,067th, given to approximately 1 in 30,326 girls. The name's trajectory reflects a broader shift away from fanciful beverage names. Brandy was most popular in California, and shares stylistic company with other 1970s girl names like April, Melissa, and Jennifer.
Brandy originated as a 20th-century American invention, derived directly from the liquor brandy, which itself comes from Dutch brandewijn ('burnt wine'). The name gained modest popularity in the mid-1900s, peaking in the 1970s, partly influenced by the celebrity namesake Brandi Brandt (born 1968) and the character Brandy on the sitcom 'The Danny Thomas Show'. It has since declined but remains an example of the trend of using spirit names for girls.
Where Brandy is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bran, B
Sibling names for Brandy
Names that share Brandy's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Brandy
Names whose popularity has moved with Brandy's over the last 50 years.
