Holding steady.
Popularity of Sweetie since 1889
Babies named Sweetie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sweetie's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7 |
| 1890s | 44 |
| 1900s | 52 |
| 1910s | 92 |
| 1920s | 97 |
| 1930s | 49 |
| 1940s | 27 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Sweetie is a rare English given name that originates from the common term of endearment. First recorded in the U.S. in 1889, it saw a slight increase in usage in the 1890s, with its peak year of popularity in 1895. Since then, the name has become extremely uncommon, and its trajectory is described as stable, meaning it has never seen a significant resurgence. Sweetie has no main state affiliation, as it has not appeared in any state's top names list, and it remains a novelty choice rather than a standard given name. The name is essentially a direct use of a word ending in the affectionate '-ie' diminutive suffix, and is almost exclusively given to girls.
Sweetie is a diminutive of the word 'sweet', derived from Old English 'swēte'. It began to be used as a personal name in the late 19th century, likely as a pet form or affectionate nickname that eventually appeared on birth certificates. Its usage has never been widespread, peaking in the 1890s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sweet, Sweets
Sibling names for Sweetie
Names that share Sweetie's style, for a brother or sister.
