Holding steady.
Popularity of Duffy since 1915
Babies named Duffy per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1969, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Duffy's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 24 |
| 1920s | 54 |
| 1930s | 23 |
| 1940s | 68 |
| 1950s | 136 |
| 1960s | 122 |
| 1970s | 133 |
| 1980s | 32 |
| 1990s | 30 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Duffy is an Irish surname-turned-first-name with a clear etymological root in the Gaelic word for 'dark'. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1915, but never entered the top 1000. Its peak year was 1975, when it saw its highest usage, though still very rare. The name has remained stable in the decades since, with a slight revival in the 1970s, reflecting a broader interest in Irish heritage names. Duffy has not been concentrated in any particular state. Its rarity means a child named Duffy today would likely be the only one in their school, offering a distinctively Irish choice.
Duffy is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Dubhthaigh, meaning 'descendant of Dubhthach'. The root dubh means 'black' or 'dark'. Historically, the Ó Dubhthaigh sept originated in County Monaghan. As a given name, Duffy emerged through the Irish surname tradition, where surnames were adopted as first names, particularly in the 20th century.
Sibling names for Duffy
Names that share Duffy's style, for a brother or sister.
