35 Baby Names That Start With Letter "D"
Learn the meaning and origins of popular baby names that start with "D."
Fact checked by Marley HallFact checked by Marley Hall
Parents have many sources of inspiration when choosing the perfect baby name. Some opt for names with generational family significance. Others choose names related to their favorite athlete or fictional character. And still others choose names that they think sound cool.
If you're on the hunt for a baby name with a particular sound, say a baby name that starts with the letter "D," there are plenty of options, from the popular to the obscure. Maybe you want a beloved vintage name like Daisy, which was given to many baby girls in the early 1900s and has regained popularity. Or perhaps you want a trendier name like Dominic, which seems to get more popular each year. Whatever the case, there's a "D" name to suit your preferences.
Editor's Note
Although this article references some names by gender, your baby’s assigned sex at birth does not need to dictate the name you choose for them. Names are not inherently gendered or associated with a specific sex, and it's important to select a name that feels right for your little one and your family.
Parents / Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol / Getty Images
Girl Names That Start With "D"
Daisy
Origin: American
Meaning: Daisy flower
Famous Namesakes: Actresses Daisy Ridley and Daisy Fuentes
Peak Popularity: Daisy is an old-fashioned name that was first popular in the early 1900s and has remained in the top 500 names for girls nearly every year since. The name hit its peak popularity in 1900 when it ranked 81.
Danae
Origin: Greek
Meaning: She who judges
Peak Popularity: Danae only captured a spot in the top 1,000 names for girls for 1987, 1990, 1991, and 1992. Its most popular year was 1991 when it ranked 913th.
Danielle
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my judge
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Danyel, Dani, Daniella, Daniela
Famous Namesakes: Actresses Danielle Fishel and Danielle Brookes and musician Danielle Haim
Peak Popularity: Danielle was most popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The name was in the top 50 names for girls from 1973 to 2000.
Daphne
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Laurel tree
Famous Namesakes: Novelist Daphne du Maurier and actress Daphne Zuniga
Peak Popularity: The biggest year for the name Daphne so far was 2023 when it ranked 241.
Darla
Origin: English
Meaning: Dear, loved one
Peak Popularity: Darla was most popular in the 1960s when it hit its peak. In 1963, the name was ranked 165th but has steadily fallen in the ranks since.
Delilah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Delicate
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lilah, Lila
Famous Namesakes: One of the most well-known uses of the name Delilah is in the Plain White T's song "Hey There, Delilah."
Peak Popularity: Delilah's popularity continues to grow, and its biggest year so far was in 2023 when it reached No. 52.
Della
Origin: English
Meaning: Of the nobility
Peak Popularity: Della is a retro name that was most popular in the early 1900s. It hit its peak popularity in 1900 at 90.
Desiree
Origin: French
Meaning: Desired
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Desi, Dee
Peak Popularity: Desiree's biggest year was 1983 when it ranked 94.
Dina
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God has judged
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Deena, Dena, Dinah
Famous Namesakes: Singer Dinah Jane
Peak Popularity: Dina was popular in the 1960s, hitting No. 199 in 1969.
Dixie
Origin: French
Meaning: From the south in the US
Famous Namesakes: Actress Dixie Carter and influencer Dixie D'Amelio
Peak Popularity: Dixie was a popular name in the 1930s and hit its peak popularity in 1938 at No. 167.
Dominique
Origin: French
Meaning: Of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dom
Famous Namesakes: Actress Dominique Swain and retired NBA great Dominique Wilkins
Peak Popularity: Dominique was a popular name in the early 1990s. It hit its peak popularity in 1991 at No. 170.
Dorothy
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dorothee, Dot
Famous Namesakes: Actress Dorothy Dandridge and former skater Dorothy Hamill
Peak Popularity: Dorothy was in the top 10 names for baby girls born from 1904 through 1939. Though it held the No. 2 spot for eight years during that time, it never hit No. 1.
Boy Names That Start With "D"
Damon
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Subdue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Daymond, Daymon
Famous Namesakes: Actor Damon Wayans
Peak Popularity: Damon had a hot popularity streak in the late 1970s hitting its peak popularity in 1976 at No. 104.
Dane
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: God is my judge
Famous Namesakes: Comedian Dane Cook
Peak Popularity: The most popular year for the name Dane was 1986 when it ranked as the 221st most popular name for boys.
Daniel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my judge
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dan, Danny
Famous Namesakes: Daniel is a popular name shared by celebrities like actors Daniel Craig, Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Kaluuya, and Daniel Dae Kim.
Peak Popularity: Daniel has consistently been in the top 50 names for boys since 1921, though it's never made No. 1.
Dante
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Everlasting
Famous Namesakes: The Italian poet Dante is probably the most well-known person with the name.
Peak Popularity: Dante's biggest year was 1997 when it ranked 200.
Daryl
Origin: English
Meaning: Person from Airelle, France
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Darrell
Famous Namesakes: Musician Daryl Hall and actress Daryl Hannah
Peak Popularity: Daryl's biggest year as a boy's name was 1970 when it reached No. 161, but Darrell's biggest year was 1967, when it peaked at No. 86. As a girl's name, Daryl only made it onto the top 1,000 names from 1945 to 1957.
David
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dave
Famous Namesakes: Many notable people have the name David, like actors David Boreanaz and David Duchovny and musicians David Bowie and Dave Grohl
Peak Popularity: Though David has long been a popular name (it has consistently been a top 50 name for boys since 1900), it has only reached No. 1 once (in 1960).
Deandre
Origin: American
Meaning: Manly
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dee, Andre
Famous Namesakes: Musician Soulja Boy's real name is DeAndre
Peak Popularity: Deandre's biggest year was 1995 when it ranked 250.
Deangelo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Of the angels
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dee, Angelo
Peak Popularity: The biggest year for the name Deangelo was 1989 when it ranked 453.
Declan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Full of goodness
Famous Namesakes: British musician and actor Declan Bennett
Peak Popularity: Declan peaked at No. 95 in 2019.
Derek
Origin: English
Meaning: People ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Derik, Derrik, Derrick, Dereck
Famous Namesakes: Former MLB player Derek Jeter and dancer Derek Hough
Peak Popularity: Derek was a popular name in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, hitting its peak popularity in 1980 at No. 50.
Desmond
Origin: Irish
Meaning: From South Munster
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Des
Famous Namesakes: Theologian Desmond Tutu is perhaps the most famous person with this name.
Peak Popularity: The best year for the name Desmond was 1992 when it ranked 265.
Dimitri
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Devotee of Demeter
Alternative Spellings & Variations: D'mitri, Demetri
Peak Popularity: Dimitri peaked in 1992 at No. 503.
Dominic
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the Lord
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dom, Dominick
Famous Namesakes: Actors Dominic West, Dominic Monaghan, and Dominic Purcell
Peak Popularity: Dominic first hit the top 100 names for boys in 2002 and didn't fall out until 2022 when it ranked 102. At its peak, Dominic ranked at No. 68.
Donald
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: World leader
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Don
Famous Namesakes: Donald is a popular name shared by actors Donald Glover and Donald Sutherland as well as musician Don Henley.
Peak Popularity: Donald was in the top 100 names for boys from 1900 until 1991. The name was especially popular in the 1920s and 1930s when it was in the top 10.
Donovan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Dark-haired warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Donavan, Don
Famous Namesakes: Retired NFL player Donovan McNabb
Peak Popularity: Donovan's biggest year was 2003 when it ranked 176.
Drake
Origin: English
Meaning: Dragon
Famous Namesakes: Singer and actor Drake Bell and rapper Aubrey Drake Graham (known mononymously as "Drake")
Peak Popularity: Drake's most popular year was 2010 when it ranked 196, the only year it broke into the top 200 names for boys.
Douglas
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Black stream
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Doug
Famous Namesakes: Actors Doug Benson and Douglas Booth
Peak Popularity: Douglas was a popular name in the 1940s when it broke into the top 50 boys names. It remained in the top 50 from 1942 until 1974.
Duke
Origin: English
Meaning: Title of nobility
Famous Namesakes: Jazz musician Duke Ellington is perhaps the most famous Duke.
Peak Popularity: Duke peaked in 2018 at No. 533.
Duncan
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Warrior
Peak Popularity: Duncan was most popular in the late 1990s, hitting its peak popularity in 1997 at No. 378.
Dustin
Origin: English
Meaning: Thor's stone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dusty
Famous Namesakes: Actors Dustin Hoffman and Dustin Diamond
Peak Popularity: Dustin was a popular name for baby boys born in the 1970s and 1980s. It was in the top 100 names for boys from 1975 to 1998, hitting its peak in 1984 at No. 41.
Gender-Neutral Names That Start With "D"
Dakota
Origin: Native American
Meaning: The allies
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cody, Kody
Famous Namesakes: Actresses Dakota Johnson and Dakota Fanning
Peak Popularity: Dakota's hit its peak popularity as a girl's name in 2006 when it ranked 190. As a boys name, its peak was in 1995 when it ranked 56.
Dana
Origin: American
Meaning: From Denmark
Famous Namesakes: Comedians Dana Carvey and Dana Gould
Peak Popularity: Dana was most popular for girls in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s when it was consistently in the top 100. As a boy's name, its most popular year was 1954 when it ranked No. 165.
Dylan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Toward the tide
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dillon
Famous Namesakes: Actors Dylan Minnette, Dylan McDermot, and Dylan Penn
Peak Popularity: Dylan has been in the top 50 most popular names for boys since 1991. As a girl's name, Dylan was most popular in 2017 when it ranked No. 353.
Tips for Naming Your Child
Choosing a name for your baby is both exciting and intimidating, especially if you want something unique. That's because a name should fit your little one's personality (or who you imagine them to be), while not being too over-the-top. Finding a balance between the two is key. Here are a few tips to consider as you make your decision:
Choose a name that you like, has meaning, or represents something important to you.
Consider other factors of the name besides its uniqueness, like what it means or how others could interpret it.
Think about whether the name could be mispronounced or mistaken for another name.
Make sure the spelling of the name is something your child will be able to master once they start school.
Think about how other kids could use the name and whether it has the potential to become something they're teased about.
Consider whether your baby's name will fit every stage of their life—you want the name to be just as appropriate in preschool as in the workforce.
Research the name you're considering to ensure it's not associated with something negative or a person with questionable character.
Think about how other people might shorten the name and how those nicknames might impact your child.
Avoid any unfortunate acronyms that may arise from your child's initials.
Strive to choose a name that can stand the test of time, even though it's unique.
More Baby Name Ideas
For more baby name inspiration, take a look at the following lists:
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