Find out how popular the first name Candy has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Candy by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Candy is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Candy being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 40 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Candy.

The history of the first name Candy

The given name Candy is a modern English name that has its roots in the word "candy" itself, which refers to a sweet confection made from sugar or other sweet substances. The name likely originated in the early 20th century, as the mass production and commercialization of confectionery products became more widespread.

The word "candy" is derived from the Arabic word "qandi," which means "composed of sugar." This word was borrowed into English from the Old French "candi" or "candé," which referred to crystallized sugar. The name Candy is thought to have been inspired by the sweet and desirable qualities associated with the confection.

While the name Candy does not have a long historical lineage, it has been used as a given name for both males and females in various parts of the world. However, it is more commonly associated with female names.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Candy can be found in the 1933 American film "Roman Scandals," where a character named Candy was portrayed by actress Gloria Stuart. Another notable bearer of the name was Candy Jones (1925-1990), an American model, writer, and self-proclaimed victim of mind control experiments.

In literature, Candy is the name of a character in the 1958 novel "Candy" by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, which explored themes of sexual liberation and satire. The name Candy was also used for a character in the 1968 film of the same name, based on the novel.

Other notable individuals named Candy include:

1. Candy Darling (1944-1974), an American actress, Warhol Superstar, and pioneer of the transgender rights movement.
2. Candy Spelling (born 1945), an American author, playwright, and philanthropist, best known as the wife of television producer Aaron Spelling.
3. Candy Lightner (born 1946), an American activist and founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
4. Candy Dulfer (born 1969), a Dutch saxophonist and singer-songwriter.
5. Candy Christiano (born 1970), an American actress and model.

While the name Candy may have started as a playful and whimsical reference to the sweet confection, it has since been embraced by individuals from various backgrounds and has become a recognizable given name in its own right.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Candy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Candy, please contact us.

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