Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Dean
BoyEnglish, Old English· “valley; church official”
- Meaning
- valley; church official
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- DEEN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #125
- US babies 2025
- 2,876
- Best rank
- #78 (1967)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Dean
Dean is an English and Old English name that means “valley; church official”.
Dean comes from an English surname with two possible roots. One is Old English denu, meaning valley, used for someone who lived in one. The other is the title dean, from the Latin decanus, originally a leader of ten, which came to mean a senior church or college official. As a first name, Dean grew popular in the twentieth century with stars such as James Dean and Dean Martin, and it still carries that cool, understated charm. Short and strong, it works well with longer middle names and has a timeless, uncomplicated feel.
Other spellings with the same sound: Deane, Deen.
Popularity over time
Dean has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #78 in 1967, and the most babies received it in 1961, when 4,933 were named Dean. In 2025, 2,876 babies were named Dean, and it ranked #125 nationally. That is 48% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #180 in 1920, #120 in 1950, #267 in 1980, #376 in 2000, #286 in 2010, and #125 in 2025. Of the 192,930 US boys named Dean since records began, 22% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 34,584 babies. Since 2010, 31,993 more have been named Dean.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Darryl, Jay, Greg, Curtis, and Phillip.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dean ranked highest in South Dakota, Utah, and Missouri.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | #30 | 25 |
| Utah | #58 | 78 |
| Missouri | #65 | 90 |
| Montana | #69 | 16 |
| Nebraska | #70 | 33 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Dean is usually pronounced DEEN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with D and ends in “-an”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Deane and Deen.
Middle names for Dean
A few middle names that flow with Dean: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dean
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Lists that include Dean
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dean mean?
Dean is an English and Old English name that means “valley; church official”.
What is the origin of the name Dean?
Dean has English and Old English roots. Dean comes from an English surname with two possible roots.
Is Dean a popular name?
Yes. Dean ranked #125 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Dean a boy or girl name?
Dean is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Dean?
Dean is usually pronounced DEEN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings