Dean

Meaning: Valley, or dean, a church official
Origin: English surname

Nicknames: Deano

Boy's name · #125 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Dean was #78 in 1967, slipped to #384 by 2006, and has climbed back to #125 today. About 193,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Dean is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Dean ranks in other countries and regions.

#54 in Netherlands (2025) · #231 in Canada (2025) · #283 in Switzerland (2025) · #344 in N. Ireland (2025) · #379 in Austria (2025) · #432 in Ireland (2025) · #483 in Italy (2024) · #495 in Scotland (2025) · #559 in Sweden (2025) · #566 in Belgium (2025) · #764 in Poland (2025) · #782 in England & Wales (2025) and 8 more.

Famous Deans

Dean Martin — American singer and actor (1917–1995)
Dean Acheson — American politician and lawyer (1893–1971)
Dean Koontz — American writer and screenwriter (born 1945)
Dean Stockwell — American actor (1936–2021)
Dean Jagger — American actor (1903–1991)
Dean Huijsen — Dutch footballer (born 2005)
Dean Cain — American actor (born 1966)
Dean Norris — American actor (born 1963)
Dean Henderson — English footballer (born 1997)
Dean Jones — American actor (1931–2015)

In stories & tradition

Dean Thomas — Wizard in the Harry Potter universe
Dean Winchester — Supernatural (TV series)
Dean Forester — Gilmore Girls (TV series)

What Deans become

Among 1,478 notable people named Dean:

Sports figures appear 2.1× more often than among typical names — e.g. Dean Huijsen, Dutch footballer (born 2005).

Similar names: Emmett · Dion · Harrison · Ryan · Dawson · Jaxson

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service