Handy is an uncommon given name of English origin, derived from the Middle English word 'hande', meaning 'hand'. This name was likely used as a nickname for someone with large hands or who was particularly skilled with their hands in some way, such as a craftsman or artisan. The use of Handy as a given name appears to have been quite rare historically, with most occurrences appearing more frequently in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in England and other English-speaking countries.
The name Handy experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with peaks occurring around 1915-1922 and a general decline since the 1940s. It reached its highest point with 16 births in both 1916 and 1919, but by the late 1970s, it had fallen to an average of around five births per year.