Dean
Dean is a boys' name of English origin meaning “valley, church official.” It ranked #125 in the United States in 2025. From the Old English denu meaning valley, or the occupational title for a church dean.
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how do you pronounce Dean?
DEEN
where does the name Dean come from?
Several origins meet in this name. One is the Greek dekanos, a dignitary or monk in charge of ten others, which gave the church title dean; another is the English surname Dean, from an Old English word for valley; a third anglicizes a Hebrew word meaning law, justice or verdict.
It gained mid-century cool through actor James Dean.
how popular is this name?
Dean has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #78 in 1967, and ranked #125 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #125 |
| 2024 | #142 |
| 2023 | #159 |
| 2022 | #164 |
| 2021 | #166 |
| 2020 | #176 |
| 2019 | #174 |
| 2018 | #172 |
| 2017 | #187 |
| 2016 | #205 |
| 2010 | #286 |
| 2000 | #376 |
| 1990 | #286 |
| 1980 | #267 |
| 1970 | #112 |
| 1967 | #78 |
| 1960 | #94 |
| 1950 | #120 |
| 1940 | #143 |
| 1930 | #129 |
| 1920 | #180 |
| 1910 | #345 |
| 1900 | #307 |
| 1890 | #351 |
| 1880 | #482 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Dean fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Dean
The surname itself has several origins, including a Scottish place name near Kilmarnock and a patronymic form of Reynald.
who are famous people named Dean?
- James Dean
- Dean Martin
- Dean Winchester (fictional)
what are the nicknames and variants of Dean?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Dean?
what names go well with Dean?
Sibling names that share Dean's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Dean
What does the name Dean mean?
Dean means “valley, church official”.
What is the origin of the name Dean?
Dean comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Deane.
How popular is the name Dean?
Dean ranked #125 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1967, at #78, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Dean a boy or girl name?
Dean is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Dean?
Dean is pronounced DEEN, with 1 syllable.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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