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Brandy

♀ Girl

Pronounced BRAN-dee /ˈbræn.diː/High

Meaning: From Dutch brandewijn meaning 'burnt wine' (the distilled spirit), used as a given name since the mid-20th century in the United States; also sometimes linked to Old English brand (sword) + the -dy suffixHigh

In 30 seconds: Brandy is an American given name derived from the word for the distilled spirit, from Dutch brandewijn (burnt wine). Warm and spirited, it was popular in the United States from the 1970s through the 1990s and retains a vibrant vintage quality.

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Origin HighDutch, Old English

MeaningFrom Dutch brandewijn meaning 'burnt wine' (the distilled spirit), used as a given name since the mid-20th century in the United States; also sometimes linked to Old English brand (sword) + the -dy suffix

U.S. rank (2025)#3072 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births53 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1981

Total births (all-time)≈ 106,555

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Brandy derives from the English word brandy, itself borrowed from Dutch brandewijn (burned wine, distilled wine), from branden (to burn, to distill) and wijn (wine). The word entered English in the 17th century for the distilled spirit. As a given name, Brandy represents the American tradition of using common nouns — especially those with warm, spirited connotations — as given names for girls.

Brandy rose as a given name in the United States in the early 1970s, accelerated by the Looking Glass hit song Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) (1972). The name peaked in the late 1970s and 1980s and was consistently in the U.S. top 100 girls names during that period. R&B singer Brandy Norwood (born 1979), known professionally as Brandy, brought additional visibility in the 1990s. The name has declined since 2000 but carries affectionate nostalgic charm.

Did you know? The 1972 pop hit Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass, which reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts, is widely credited with popularizing Brandy as a given name in the early 1970s.

Overall data confidence 88%

Oxford English Dictionary — brandy — Dutch brandewijn, burnt wine, distilled spiritU.S. Social Security Administration — Brandy popularity data, 1970s-1990s peak

Variations

BrandiBrandieBrandee

Nicknames

BranBree

Famous Bearers

★Brandy Norwood (1979–present)
American R&B singer and actress known professionally as Brandy, a multi-platinum recording artist and star of the TV series Moesha.