Dean Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Dean is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Dean?
Dean is spelled D-E-A-N. The name has 4 letters.
Dean at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The word “Dean” originates from the Latin “decanus,” meaning “chief of ten.”
- Origin
- The name Dean is commonly associated with the Old English and Latin term for a church official or administrative leader.
- Pronunciation
- DEEN · 1 syllable
Dean Popularity in 2025
Rank#13,208
Recorded Births6
Rank#125
Recorded Births2,876
- Girls usage rose 2,085 places to #13,208 and recorded 1 more birth compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 17 places to #125 and recorded 327 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Dean Mean?
The word “Dean” originates from the Latin “decanus,” meaning “chief of ten.”
Origin: The name Dean is commonly associated with the Old English and Latin term for a church official or administrative leader.
How Do You Pronounce Dean?
PronunciationDEEN
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Dean?
- History
- Dean has historical usage primarily as an occupational surname and later as a given name associated with ecclesiastical leadership roles in medieval England.
Dean Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2011 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 6 | #13,208 |
| 2025 | Boys | 2,876 | #125 |
| 2024 | Girls | 5 | #15,293 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,549 | #142 |
| 2023 | Girls | 5 | #15,194 |
| 2023 | Boys | 2,289 | #159 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,265 | #164 |
| 2021 | Girls | 9 | #10,292 |
| 2021 | Boys | 2,352 | #166 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5 | #15,088 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,165 | #176 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,220 | #174 |
| 2018 | Girls | 8 | #11,427 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,257 | #172 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,083 | #187 |
| 2016 | Girls | 8 | #11,781 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,966 | #205 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,950 | #204 |
| 2014 | Girls | 6 | #14,558 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,711 | #221 |
| 2013 | Boys | 1,512 | #240 |
| 2012 | Boys | 1,380 | #260 |
| 2011 | Girls | 6 | #14,824 |
| 2011 | Boys | 1,235 | #284 |
When Was Dean Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1961 · Boys
4,933 recorded births
National rank #84
1962 · Boys
4,655 recorded births
National rank #86
1963 · Boys
4,616 recorded births
National rank #86
1960 · Boys
4,518 recorded births
National rank #94
Where Dean Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| SD | #30 | 25 |
| UT | #58 | 78 |
| MO | #65 | 90 |
| MT | #66 | 16 |
| NE | #69 | 33 |
| ID | #71 | 30 |
| KS | #72 | 47 |
| NH | #74 | 20 |