Boy Names That Start With D, Popular and Rare Picks
Currently popular D names for boys
- Daniel (Hebrew, meaning God is my judge)
- David (Hebrew, meaning beloved)
- Dominic (Latin, meaning of the Lord)
- Damian (Greek, meaning to tame or subdue)
- Dean (English, originally an occupational/ecclesiastical surname title)
- Dylan (Welsh, tied to a figure in Welsh mythology, commonly read as meaning great tide or son of the sea)
Rare and distinctive D names for boys
- Dashiell (French roots via an American surname, popularized by the writer Dashiell Hammett)
- Declan (Irish, tied to Saint Declan, a 5th century Irish bishop)
- Darius (Persian, meaning possessing goodness, tied to the historical Persian king Darius the Great)
- Desmond (Irish, meaning man from South Munster)
Quick facts
| Common origins | Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Irish, Welsh |
| Common meaning themes | judgment/faith, taming or subduing, place-based Irish surnames |
| Note | David and Daniel share the same “God” theme despite different literal Hebrew roots, both are among the most enduring D names across centuries |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular boy’s name starting with D?
Daniel and David have both remained consistently strong D names for boys across many decades, alongside Dominic and Dean in more recent years.
Is Dylan a Welsh name or an English one?
It is Welsh in origin, tied to a sea-associated figure in Welsh mythology, though it is now used widely across English-speaking countries independent of that mythological reference.
Where does the name Desmond come from?
It is Irish, originally referring to a person from South Munster (Deas Mhumhain), a region in the south of Ireland, rather than carrying an abstract word meaning.
Related reading
Girl equivalent: girl names starting with D. Mixed overview: baby names starting with D.