Where does the name Dean come from?

Dean is a boy name of Old English origin.

Is Dean a boy or a girl name?

Dean is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 2% of children given the name Dean are girls and 98% are boys.

How popular is the name Dean in 2023?

Dean ranks #15773 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1961 with 4,967 babies.

How do you pronounce Dean?

Dean is pronounced DEEN (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Dean?

Dean is also written as Deane, Dino.

A name from Old English · Boy

Dean

From Old English denu ('valley') as a place-based surname, or from Anglo-Norman deien meaning 'leader of ten' (the source of the academic and church title 'dean'). Both threads merged into the modern given name.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

187,505 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

2,294 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

DFrom Old English denu ('valley') as a place-based surname, or from Anglo-Norman deien meaning 'leader of ten' (the source of the academic and church title 'dean'). Both threads merged into the modern given name.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Dean".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Deane Most common Dino

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Dean.

D
Dean Martin (singer and entertainer)
D
James Dean (actor; surname)
D
Dean Koontz (novelist)

Quick answers

People often ask about Dean.

What does the name Dean mean?: Dean means from Old English denu ('valley') as a place-based surname, or from Anglo-Norman deien meaning 'leader of ten' (the source of the academic and church title 'dean'). Both threads merged into the modern given name.
Where does the name Dean come from?: Dean is a boy name of Old English origin.
Is Dean a boy or a girl name?: Dean is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 2% of children given the name Dean are girls and 98% are boys.
How popular is the name Dean in 2023?: Dean ranks #15773 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1961 with 4,967 babies.
How do you pronounce Dean?: Dean is pronounced DEEN (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Dean?: Dean is also written as Deane, Dino.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.