Dean
Dean was the 125th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,876 babies. Its best year was 1967, when it ranked 78th; the most babies were born in 1961 (4,933). Over the last ten years it has moved up 79 places. More babies were named Dean in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · English, Latin
Say it DEEN /din/
- Rank in 2025
- #125 boys, up 51 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,876boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19614,933 babies
- Total since 1880
- 195,844babies recorded
What does the name Dean mean?
Dean has several origins. Wiktionary lists an English surname from Middle English dene, 'valley', another from the church title dean (Latin decanus, a person in charge of ten), and other sources, including a Scottish place name. Wikipedia gives the same 'valley' and 'dean' sources and adds that the Hebrew word din, 'judgment', is sometimes linked with it. As a first name Dean is a transferred surname that became common in the mid-20th century.
dene (Middle English, “valley”)decānus (Late Latin, “one in charge of ten; dean”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several independent surname origins ('valley', 'dean'); which applies varies by family.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Dean', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Dean (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Dean popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 2,914 since 1884, 6 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #125 | 2,876 |
| 2020 | #176 | 2,165 |
| 2010 | #286 | 1,183 |
| 2000 | #376 | 696 |
| 1990 | #286 | 894 |
| 1980 | #267 | 817 |
| 1970 | #112 | 2,941 |
| 1960 | #94 | 4,518 |
| 1950 | #120 | 2,337 |
| 1940 | #143 | 1,223 |
| 1930 | #129 | 1,365 |
| 1920 | #180 | 788 |
| 1910 | #347 | 53 |
| 1900 | #308 | 46 |
| 1890 | #352 | 25 |
| 1880 | #488 | 14 |
How popular is Dean, counting every spelling?
Dean is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #126 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #125 for Dean on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,958 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | 2,876 | #125 | 12,331 |
| Deen | 76 | #1,996 | 358 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Dean?
2,876 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Dean (0.80 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Dean born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Dean.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Dean?
About 133,800 people born in the US named Dean are alive today, with a median age of 56; half are between 18 and 66. That makes Dean a name most people associate with older generations. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Dean by state
How common Dean was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Idaho (2.6×), Utah (2.4×), Alaska (2.4×), New Hampshire (2.2×), Montana (2.1×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Dean: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Dean, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Dean · Sibling names for Dean
Questions about the name Dean
What does Dean mean?
The origin of Dean is uncertain: several independent surname origins ('valley', 'dean'); which applies varies by family.
How popular is the name Dean?
Dean was the 125th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,876 babies. Its best year was 1967, when it ranked 78th; the most babies were born in 1961 (4,933). Over the last ten years it has moved up 79 places. More babies were named Dean in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Dean a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Dean in the US.
Where is Dean most popular?
In 2021–2025, Dean was most common in Idaho (3.71 per 1,000 boys), followed by Utah and Alaska.