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Dafydd, Dai see David

Daisy f.

This probably started out as a 19th-century pet name for MARGARET, a pun on marguerite, the French word for daisy. However, there is no reason why it should not have come into use as a simple flower name, and few people today would use it otherwise.

Daithi see David

Dakota f. and m.

The name of this American Indian nation is now being regularly used in the USA. Its use can be compared to that of CHEYENNE.

Dale f. and m.

The Old English for ‘valley’. At first more common as a girl’s name, it is now more frequently used for boys. There are a number of other surnames from place names starting with the same sound, such as Dalton, Dallas and Dallin, that may owe their use as boys’ names to the popularity of Dale.

Damaris f.

The Greek name in the New Testament of an Athenian woman converted by St Paul. This led to its adoption by Puritans in the 17th century. It is probably a form of a Greek name meaning ‘heifer’.

Damhnait see Devnet

Damian, Damien m.

From the Greek, meaning ‘tamer’. There have been four saints called by this name. It was little used in the UK before the 20th century, but became popular in the 1970s.

Damon m.

From the Greek, meaning ‘to rule’ or ‘guide’. In Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were inseparable friends, famous for their willingness to die for each other.

Dan see Daniel

Dana f. and m.

As a boy’s name this comes from the surname, the Old English word for a Dane, and is sometimes found in the form Dane. The female name is either a Scandinavian girl’s form of DANIEL, or, in Ireland, can be taken from the pagan fertility goddess, Dana or Ana.

Dandy see Andrew

Daniel m., Danielle f.

Daniel, meaning ‘God has judged’, is the Hebrew name of an Old Testament prophet. It was found in England before the Norman Conquest, but only among priests and monks. It became more widespread in the 13th and 14th centuries. In Ireland and Wales it is often found as a version of the Irish Domhnall (see DONALD) and Welsh Deiniol, meaning ‘attractive, charming’. Its shortened forms are Dan and Danny. For girls, Danielle is the most common form, but Daniel(l)a and Danette are also used.

Dante see Donte

Daphne f.

From the Greek for ‘bay tree, laurel’. In classical mythology, it was the name of a nymph who the god Apollo loved. She called on the gods for help to escape his attentions, and was changed by them into a laurel. The name was a traditional name for dogs until the end of the 19th century, when it became quite common as a girl’s name.

Dara f. and m.

This is an Irish name, a shortened form of Mac Dara ‘son of the oak’, the name of a popular Connemara saint. It is also spelt Darragh. Although traditionally a masculine name, it is now also used for girls.

Darcy f. and m.

Darcy can be either from a French surname meaning someone from a place called Arcy, hence the form d’Arcy, or an Irish surname meaning ‘descendant of the dark one’. For girls it often takes the form Darcey or Darci(e).

Daria f., Darius m.

Darius was the name of the 6th-century BC king of the Persians who was defeated by the Athenians at Marathon. The name means ‘protector’. Daria is the feminine form.

Darian, Darien see Dorian

Darlene f.

This appears to be a relatively modern invention, made up of the first syllable of one of the names beginning ‘Dar-’, or perhaps from ‘darling’, with the -ene ending that is popular with newly created names such as CHARLENE and Raelene.

Darrel(l) f. and m.

Also spelt Dar(r)yl, this is another surname used as a first name. In this case the surname comes from a French village, the village name meaning ‘courtyard, open space’. Originally mainly a boy’s name, its spread as a girl’s name may owe something to Enid Blyton’s use of her second husband’s surname, Darrell, for the heroine of her Malory Towers school stories.

Darren m.

A surname of unknown meaning used as a first name. It seems to have been introduced in the 1950s and become popular in the 1960s. Darran is also found.

Darshan m.

An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘to see’. Darshan refers to being in the presence of, or being near enough to touch and see with one’s own eyes, a holy or revered person. It is thought to bestow spiritual enrichment on the observer.

Dashia, Dasia see Deja

Dashiell m.

The American detective novelist Dashiell Hammet (1894–1960), best known for The Maltese Falcon, first brought the name to public attention. He was named from his mother’s surname. As well as being a noted writer he was something of a hero of the left, having gone to prison rather than testify during McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts. The name has been used quietly ever since, and has been used by a number of celebrities, including Cate Blanchett and Alice Cooper.

David m.

The Hebrew name of the second king of Israel in the Old Testament, meaning ‘beloved’. This name absorbed the Celtic Daithi, meaning ‘nimbleness’ (the ‘th’ is pronounced ‘h’), and became very popular in Wales and Scotland. The patron saint of Wales is a 6th-century David. There were Scottish kings of this name in the 10th and 14th centuries. The name did not appear in England before the Norman Conquest, but it was a common medieval surname in the variant forms Davy, Davit and Deakin. Short forms are Dave, Davy, Davie, and in Wales Dafydd becomes Dai or Taffy, the latter being an English nickname for a Welshman.

Davida, Davina f.

These Scottish female forms of DAVID are found from the 17th century, but were not much used until the 20th century, when they started to become more popular. They are sometimes shortened to Vida and Vina, and Davita and Davinia are also found.

Davie, Davy see David

Dawn f.

This name came into use in the late 19th century. Aurora, the name of the Greek goddess of dawn, had been in vogue slightly earlier and the English translation was probably a literary invention.

Dean m.

A surname, meaning ‘valley’, adopted as a first name. It seems to have become popular in the United States first, but has been widely used in the UK since the 1960s. Deana or Dena is a feminine.

DeAndre m.

One of the names that was highly fashionable among Afro-American families throughout the 1980s. The prefix ‘De-’ was regularly attached to other names, leading to new forms such as DeAngelo, DeJuan, DeMarco or DeMarcus, DeMario, DeShawn and DeWayne. For the meanings of these names, look under the entries for the names which follow the ‘De-’ prefix.

Deanna, Deanne see Diana

Dearbhail see Dervla

Deb see Dev

Debdan see Devdan

Deborah f.

A Hebrew name meaning ‘bee’, and the name of a prophetess and poet in the Old Testament. It was first used by Puritans in the 17th century. Debbie or Debby is a common abbreviation which is sometimes used independently. Debra is a modern spelling of the name.

Declan m.

The name of an early Irish saint associated with Ardmore. It has recently been popular with Irish parents.

Dee f. and m.

This is usually a nickname, given to anyone with a name beginning with the letter ‘D’, but is occasionally found as a given name. Compounds such as Deedee also occur.

Deepak m., Deepika f.

An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘little lamp’. It is one of the descriptive names applied to Kama, god of love. The spelling Dipak is also used for boys.

Deiniol see Daniel

Deirbhaile see Dervla

Deirdre f.

The Irish name of a character in Irish and Scottish legend, possibly meaning ‘raging’ or ‘sorrowful’. The name became popular after the late 19th-century Celtic revival, and is now enjoying another major revival in Ireland. It often takes the form Deidra in the USA.

Deja f.

This new name is something of a mystery. It has been linked to the French word déjà, ‘already’, as in déjà vu, but this seems unlikely. A more likely source is the character of Dejah Thoris, the beautiful princess in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom novels. Spellings include Dejah, Dasha and Dasia.

DeJuan see DeAndre

Del, Dell see Delbert, Derek

Delbert m.

This name has been in use since at least the beginning of the 20th century. It is probably formed on the pattern of several surnames such as Delroy (‘of the king’) and Delmar, (‘of the sea’) which are also used as first names, keeping the ‘Del-’ part and adding ‘-bert’ from the many Germanic names which end in this suffix. The short forms Del or Dell are also used as first names, and can be pet forms of DEREK.

Delia f.

This name is derived from Delos, the legendary birthplace of the Greek moon goddess Artemis (see DIANA) and a name sometimes given to her. It was popular with pastoral poets in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Delilah f.

This is the name borne by the well-known biblical character who betrayed Samson to the Philistines. It derives from a Hebrew name meaning ‘coquette’ or ‘flirt’. It was also the title of a song popularised by Tom Jones, but this failed to persuade many parents to make use of it.

Della f.

Originally a short form of ADELA, this is now well established as a name in its own right.

Delmar, Delroy see Delbert

DeMarco, DeMarcus, DeMario see DeAndre

Demelza f.

A place name, meaning ‘the hill-fort of Maeldaf’, used as a first name in Cornwall. It became more widely known through its use in the Poldark books and TV series.

Demetrius m.

This is an ancient Greek name which means ‘follower’ or ‘devotee of Demeter’, the Greek pagan goddess of corn and agriculture whose name in turn means ‘earth mother’. It was the name of a highly successful general who died in 286 BC. In the form Demetrios, it is the name of a Greek saint and as Demitrus it is found in the Bible. Dimitri or Dmitri is the form the name takes in Russia, where it has been long established. Demetra, which can be shortened to Demi, as in the actress Demi Moore, is the commonest form for girls. Demetrius was a name little used by English speakers until fairly recently, when it became popular in the United States among Afro-American families because it began with the fashionable ‘De-’ prefix (see DEANDRE).

Den see Denis

Dena see Dean

Denholm m.

A place name, meaning ‘island valley’, used as a first name. The similar Denham, ‘home in a valley’, is also used.

Denis m., Denise f.

A development of the name of Dionysos, the Greek god of wine and revelry. Denis or Dennis is the French form and the name of the patron saint of France. It occurs in England from the 12th century on. In Ireland it has long been used as a substitute for the Irish Donnchadh (see DUNCAN). Den and Denny are short forms. Denise, the female form, is also from French. Dion or Deon, (m.) and Dionne (f.) can either come from Dionysos or be a separate name from the same root, connected with the word for ‘a god’, while Dione can be thought of either as a variant of Dionne, or as the name of another character from Greek mythology whose name means ‘divine queen’. These are growing in popularity (see also DWIGHT).

Denzil m.

In the form Denzell, this is an old Cornish surname derived from a place-name.

Deo see Dev

Deodan see Devdan

Deon see Denis

Derek, Derrick m.

This is from the Old German Theodoric, meaning ‘people’s ruler’. It occurs in the 15th century but only became popular in the 20th century. Its fall from favour between these two periods is attributed to a notorious 17th-century hangman of that name. Variants recently revived are Deryk, Deric and the Dutch form Dirk, popularised by the actor Dirk Bogarde. Pet forms are Derry, Rick, Rickie and Del or Dell.

Dermot m.

This is the anglicised spelling of Diarm(a)it or Diarm(a)id, the Irish name possibly meaning ‘free from envy’, or ‘free man’. The legendary character who bore this name eloped with GRAINNE who was betrothed to FINN. Finn pursued the lovers for a long time and finally brought about Dermot’s death.

Derrick, Derry see Derek

Dervla f.

This is the phonetic form of Deirbhaile, an old Irish name which means ‘daughter of the poet’. It is best known through the travel writer, Dervla Murphy. It also occurs as Dervila, reflecting the Irish pronunciation. The similar-looking Dearbhail, which can be anglicised Derval or Dervilia, meaning ‘daughter of Fal’ (a figure in Irish legend), is also popular at the moment in Ireland.

Deryk see Derek

Des, Desi see Desmond

DeShawn see DeAndre

Désirée f.

A French name meaning ‘desired’. It has been in use since the beginning of the Christian era in the Latin form Desideria, originally for a long-awaited, much-desired child. The French boy’s name Didier, ‘longing’, shortened to Didi, would be the male equivalent.

Desmond m.

From the Irish Deas-Mumhain, meaning ‘(man) of Desmond’, an old name for Munster. It was originally used as a surname in Ireland. Later it became a first name, and came to England in the late 19th century. Des and Desi, Desy or Dezi are short forms.

Destiny f.

This vocabulary word has recently become popular as a girl’s name in the USA.

Detta see Bernadette

Dev m.

An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘god’. Deva is also the term used to address royalty, Brahmins and priests. Dev becomes Deb or Deo in different parts of India. Devdan means ‘gift of the gods’. The forms Debdan and Deodan are also used.

Devnet f.

This is the anglicised spelling of the Irish name Damhnait, the name of an early Irish martyr meaning ‘fawn, little deer’. An older form is Dymp(h)na.

Devon f. and m.

This name appears to be the name of the English county, but American parents usually stress it on the second syllable. Its use was probably suggested when ‘De-’ became a fashionable prefix for names among Afro-American families, as in DEANDRE. The alternative spelling Devin is frequent and forms such as DaVon are also found.

DeWayne see DeAndre, Duane

Dexter m.

This is a surname, originally given to a dyer, now used as a first name.

Dezi see Desmond

Dhanishta f.

An Indian name that derives from the Sanskrit for ‘star’.

Di see Diana

Diamond see Ruby

Diana f.

The Latin name of the Roman goddess, equivalent to the Greek, Artemis. She was associated with the moon and virginity. She was also the goddess of hunting and protector of wild animals. Its use as a first name dates from the Renaissance, when the French form Diane is also first found. Di is the commonest short form, as seen in the popular nickname for the late Princess of Wales. Despite her immense popularity the name is not widely used, although it was given to rather more babies than usual in the months following her death in 1997. The actress Deanna Durbin introduced a different form of the name, and the form Deanne is also found, while Diane has developed forms such as Dianne and Dyan(ne). DINAH is a separate name.

Diarm(a)id, Diarm(a)it see Dermot

Dick, Dickie, Dickon see Richard

Didi, Didier see Desirée

Dido f.

Dido, possibly meaning ‘maiden’, was the name of the wise and cunnning Queen of Carthage, who, in Roman myth, fell in love with the wandering AENEUS. When he left to found the Roman nation on the orders of the gods, she killed herself in despair. The singer who has made the name famous in modern times was born Florian Cloud De Bounevialle, but was given Dido as a family nickname when small.

Diego m.

This popular Spanish name is well used in the USA. It is a form of JAMES, through the intermediary forms Tiego and Tiago, from Sant Iago, ‘Saint James’.

Digby m.

A place and surname, meaning ‘the settlement by the dike’, used as a first name.

Dilip m.

The name of several kings in the Hindu epics. It probably comes from the Sanskrit words meaning ‘protecting Delhi’. An alternative form of the name is Duleep.

Dilys f.

From the Welsh, meaning ‘perfect, genuine’. The name became current in Wales in the 19th century, and is now no longer confined to Wales. Dilly is a short form.

Dimitri see Demetrius

Dinah f.

From the Hebrew, meaning ‘lawsuit’ or ‘judged’. It was the name of one of Jacob’s daughters in the Old Testament. It came into use in the 17th century and was a favourite name in the 19th century, when it was often confused with DIANA. Nowadays it is often spelt Dina.

Dinsdale m.

A place and surname used as a first name. It means ‘settlement surrounded by a moat’.

Dion, Dione, Dionne, Dionysos see Denis

Dipak see Deepak

Dirk see Derek

Divya f.

An Indian name from the Sanskrit for ‘divine lustre’.

Djamila see Jamila

Dmitri see Demetrius

Dodie, Dodo, Doll, Dolly see Dorothy

Doireann see Doreen

Dolores f.

This name was originally a short form of the Spanish Maria de los Dolores, or ‘Mary of the Sorrows’, after the feast of the ‘Seven Sorrows of Our Lady’. Spain uses other names from titles of the Virgin: Mercedes (Our Lady of the Mercies) and Montserrat, from Our Lady of Montserrat, a famous monastery. Dolores became popular in North America about 1930. Pet forms are LOLA, Lolita and Lo.

Domhnall see Daniel, Donald

Dominic m., Dominique f.

From the Latin dominicus meaning ‘of the Lord’. It probably became more widespread on account of St Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers known as the Black Friars early in the 13th century. Until this century it was almost exclusively a Roman Catholic name, but is now widely used. Dominick is also found, and the name can be shortened to Dom and Nic. Dominique, from the French, is now the most popular form for girls, although Dominica, the original Latin feminine form, is sometimes used.

Donald m.

From the Irish Domhnall or Donal(l) (the second reflecting the pronunciation, with a long ‘o’ as in ‘doe’) meaning ‘world mighty’. It was the name of a number of medieval Irish kings. The name became Donald in Gaelic. Common short forms are Don and Donny. Various forms of the name were coined in the Highlands to turn Donald into a girl’s name, of which Donalda and Donella have been the commonest.

Donata f.

This name is far more often used than its male equivalent, Donatus or Donat, both Latin for ‘given [by God]’. The Old French equivalent was Dieudonné(e), which is still very occasionally found.

Donella see Donald

Donna f.

This is the Italian word for ‘lady’. It became popular as a first name in the 20th century, particularly in North America. Madonna, ‘My Lady’, used of the Virgin Mary, in use in the USA by the 1930s, comes from the same word.

Donnchadh see Denis, Duncan

Donny see Donald

Donovan m.

An Irish surname, meaning ‘dark brown’, used as a first name. It gained publicity as the name of a popular singer from the 1960s.

Donte m.

The Italian name Durrante, meaning ‘steadfast’, developed the shortened form Donte, and Dante, famous as the name of the medieval poet. Donte (pronounced with two syllables) has been well used in the USA in recent years.

Dora f.

Originally this name was a short form of DOROTHY and THEODORA, but it is now a name in its own right. It came into use at the beginning of the 19th century. A pet form is Dorrie, shared with other names like DOREEN and DORIS. Dorinda was an 18th-century elaboration of the name.

Dorcas see Tabitha

Doreen f.

From the Irish Doireann, a name sometimes found in English spelling as Dorren. Its origin is rather obscure, but in Irish mythology it is the name of at least two supernatural beings. A short form is Dorrie, and the name can also be spelt Dorinne.

Dorian f. and m.

The ancient Greek people known as Dorians came from Doris in the north, but later dominated southern Greece. The best-known group were the Spartans. The word was introduced as a first name in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891). Like so many boy’s names, it is now used as a girl’s name as well. It is now also spelt Dorien or Dorrien and for girls Dorianne and Doriana. Forms such as Darian and Darien can be seen as either a form of this name, or a blend of such names as DARIUS and DARREN.

Dorinda see Dora

Dorinne see Doreen

Doris f.

The name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology, possibly meaning ‘bountiful’, and also a term for a woman member of the DORIAN people of Greece. In classical literature it was used as a poetic name for a lovely woman. It came into common use at the end of the 19th century and was popular into the 1930s. A short form is Dorrie.

Dorothy, Dorothea f.

From the Greek meaning ‘gift of God’. The name is found in Britain from the end of the 15th century and has been in use ever since. In the 16th century, it was abbreviated to Doll(y), and was so popular that the toy became known as a doll, Doll being such a likely name for a baby. In Scottish dialect, a doll is sometimes called a Dorrity. Later short forms are DORA, Dot, Dottie, Dodo, Dodie and Thea (see also THEODORA).

Dorren see Doreen

Dorrie see Dora, Doreen, Doris

Dorrien see Dorian

Dorrity, Dot, Dottie see Dorothy

Dougal, Dugal(d) m.

From the Irish dubh ghall, meaning ‘dark stranger’, a name given to the Danish Vikings. It was a common first name in the Scottish Highlands, and while it still has strong Scottish associations, it now has a more general use.

Douglas m.

From the Gaelic dubh glas, meaning ‘black stream’. It was first a Celtic river name, then the surname of a powerful Scottish family famous for its strength and bravery in fighting, and then, from about the late 16th century, a first name for both girls and boys. It is now restricted to boys. Duggie and Doug(ie) are pet forms.

Drew m. and f.

From the Old German Drogo, meaning ‘to carry’ or ‘to bear’, a name which was brought to Britain by the Normans and later became a surname. This surname, which like any other, can also be used as a first name, may also come from two other sources: as a short form of ANDREW, probably the commonest form of Drew as a first name, and from an old French word for ‘lover’. Parents wishing to use this name may take their choice. It has recently been used occasionally for girls.

Drusilla f.

A feminine form of the Latin Drusus, a Roman family name, possibly meaning ‘firm’. It occurs in the New Testament and was adopted in the 17th century by the Puritans. It is still used occasionally, mainly in North America.

Duane, Dwayne m.

An Irish surname, probably meaning ‘black’, used as a first name. Pop star Duane Eddy made the name better known in the 1950s. More recently it has developed exotic variants such as DeWayne or Du’aine.

Dudley m.

Originally a surname from the place name in Worcestershire. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was the favourite of Queen Elizabeth for many years. Like other aristocratic names it came into general use as a first name in the 19th century. Dud is a short form.

Dugal(d) see Dougal

Duggie see Douglas

Duke see Marmaduke

Dulcie f.

Dulcie is a name coined in the 19th century from the Latin dulcis, meaning ‘sweet’. There was an earlier name, Dulcibella (‘fair and sweet’). Dulcie was very popular in the early years of the 20th century, but now has an old-fashioned ring to it.

Duleep see Dilip

Duncan m.

The Scots form of the Irish Donnchadh (pronounced don-ne-ha, the ‘h’ ideally the sound in Scottish ‘loch’), meaning ‘brown’. It was the name of two Scottish kings and at one time was almost entirely confined to Scotland, although this is no longer the case.

Dunstan m.

From the Old English words dun, meaning ‘hill’ and stan, meaning ‘stone’. It was the name of a famous 10th-century Archbishop of Canterbury. It appears from time to time before the Reformation, and was revived by the Oxford Movement in the 19th century.

Durga f.

The name of the Hindu goddess, the wife of SHIVA, when depicted in her terrifying form. Durga is from a Sanskrit word for ‘inaccessible’.

Dustin m.

Best known from the actor Dustin Hoffman, this name has recently been very popular in the USA. It may be from a place name meaning ‘dusty’, or could be a form of Thurstan, a Norse name meaning ‘Thor’s stone’, i.e. an altar dedicated to the thunder god Thor.

Dwayne see Duane

Dwight m.

Originally an English surname, which may go back to the same source as DENIS. The use of this name as a first name in the United States probably arose from respect for Timothy Dwight, President of Yale University (1795–1817). US President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a wider circulation to the name.

Dyan, Dyanne see Diana

Dylan m.

This is the name of a legendary Welsh hero, son of the sea god, possibly meaning ‘son of the wave’. It was rare outside Wales, but the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, made it more familiar to the general public. The singer, Bob Dylan, often referred to by his second name, took his stage name from the poet and has increased its use.

Dymp(h)na see Devnet