Boy Names Starting with D: Classic Daniel to Daring Drummer

Let’s talk about boy names starting with D.

David comes to mind immediately. Daniel, too. More parents prefer boy names starting with J – or A or M – but D names routinely appear in the US Top 100. It feels like a strong, solid sound for a boy.

In fact, it’s the tenth most popular first initial for a boy’s name as of 2024.

It’s not just classics, though. Plenty of current favorites begin with this letter. There have always been some trending choices brought to us by D. Another generation’s Dwayne, Dwight, and Daryl/Darrell are echoed in this decade’s Daxton, Devon, and Dior.

A handful of boy names starting with D qualify as neglected classics. Douglas sounds rather dashing, and there’s something fun about Dale. Dennis rhymes with menace, of course, but Denny sounds delightfully retro.

There’s no shortage of possibilities when it comes to baby boy names beginning with the letter D.

MOST POPULAR BABY BOY NAMES STARTING WITH D

DANIEL (#16)

There’s Daniel of the lion’s den, the Biblical hero. And then there’s Daniel Tiger, the beloved character from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. The two figures show this name’s tremendous range. It’s darling on a child, but sounds capable and serious for an adult. Irish ballad “Danny Boy” means your kiddo has a built-in lullaby, and if that’s not your style, there’s always Elton John’s “Daniel.”

DYLAN (#28)

With ties to literary giant Thomas, musical genius Bob, and so many more famous figures, Dylan has attained modern classic status. A meaning tied to the ocean adds even more appeal. While this generation of parents might still think of Dylan as 90210’s bad boy, it has transitioned into a traditional, solid choice for a son. Late 2024 biopic A Complete Unknown may have increased Dylan’s appeal. It’s also quite popular with Spanish-speaking parents.

DAVID (#31)

An evergreen classic, David ranked in the Top Ten from the 1930s into the 90s. That’s quite a run! Famous figures abound, from Bowie to Beckham; Chappelle to Copperfield – the real magician and the fictional Dickens character.

DOMINIC (#108)

Once bestowed on boys born on Sunday, Dominic comes from a Latin phrase meaning “of the Lord.” Domingo means Sunday in Spanish; in Italian, it’s domenica. While it’s ranked in the US Top 1000 every year since 1894, it’s more popular than ever in the twenty-first century. Nickname Dom is the obvious choice, but Nick and Nico work, too.

DAMIAN (#110)

Despite belonging to a third century saint, Damian failed to chart in the US until the 1950s. One possible inspiration? Character actor Damian O’Flynn, who worked steadily from the 1930s onward. The 1976 horror film sensation The Omen boosted the name – even though it was spelled Damien in the movie. It’s even more popular in the twenty-first century, a longer boy’s name in the key of Julian and Sebastian.

DECLAN (#131)

Thanks to a fifth century Irish saint, this name fits in with fellow imports Ryan and Brendan. It’s the real name of singer Elvis Costello, and until recently was far more familiar in the UK than the US. But lately American parents have embraced Declan, replacing former favorites like Dustin and Devin with this appealing name.

DAWSON (#139)

Surname name Dawson comes from David. It fits with choices like Jackson and Mason. But 1990s television series Dawson’s Creek turbocharged it. The WB teen drama followed a group of friends, including James van der Beek as Dawson Leery. Parents took note, and the name shot into the Top 200 during the series’ run. It’s back on the rise again, possibly thanks to our love of so many -son ending surnames.

DEAN (#142)

Dean Martin and James Dean make this name feel effortlessly cool. Harry Potter, Gilmore Girls, and Supernatural brought the name to a new generation of parents. It’s brief and bright, a name that feels somewhere between a twentieth century trend and a modern traditional.

DIEGO (#145)

The Spanish form of James, Diego brings to mind everything from artists like Rivera to Dora the Explorer’s cousin to the southern California city named for the saint. The connection between James and Diego seems confusing, but here’s a sketch. The Hebrew Yaakov became the Greek Iakob, which eventually became Iacobus and Iacomus in Latin. Iacomus eventually gave us James. Meanwhile, Iago developed in Spanish; Santo Iago meant Saint James. That led to Santiago. Split Santiago differently, and you’ll arrive at Tiago, Thiago … or Diego. Actor Diego Luna is one of many notable men by the name.

DALLAS (#243)

A place name that sounds big and bold, for a daughter or a son.

DEREK (#258)

Derek evolved from Germanic names like Theodoric. It peaked in the 1980s, but all these years later, it remains more popular than many other boy names starting with D.

DANTE (#322)

Literary powerhouse Dante Aligheri defined medieval Italian literature, influencing both the language and future writers for generations. Appropriately, Dante means enduring.

DAKOTA (#328)

North and South Dakota both took their name from the Dakota people. It means dear friend or ally in the Dakota language. Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott gave this name new life by raising its profile and suggesting a fresh nickname possibility.

DAMIEN (#344)

Another spelling of Damian.

DARIEL (#347)

Darius meets Gabriel. It’s one of the boys’ names ending with -iel currently trending.

DESMOND (#368)

An Irish surname turned given name, Desmond has been used across centuries. The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu helps define the name as strong and principled.

DAXTON (#411)

A novel name, inspired by Paxton and Braxton, plus Max, Jax, and Dax.

DALTON (#432)

A low-key stylish surname name, Dalton reached the Top 100 briefly in the 1990s.

DAMON (#454)

A name borrowed from a Greek legend about friendship – one of the few ancient tales with a happy ending.

DENVER (#486)

Another place name, this time evoking the best of Colorado – including singer John Denver.

DONOVAN (#504)

Another Irish choice, upbeat Donovan has never quite caught on in the US, but would fit right in with names like Sullivan and Dylan.

DEVIN (#515)

Surname name Devin followed Irish Kevin into greater use.

DORIAN (#538)

Oscar Wilde’s character in The Picture of Dorian Gray put this appealing, three-syllable, ends-with-IAN option on the list. With Julian in the US Top 100, Dorian could rise higher still.

DREW (#542)

Originally short for Andrew, Drew now stands alone. Just ask Drew Brees, Drew Carey, and Drew Scott.

DEACON (#550)

A job title with a serious vibe and an energetic sound.

DOMINICK (#552)

Another Dominic spelling option, possibly with the added K to emphasize the possible short form Nick.

DARIO (#635)

Romance language take on Darius, with that popular O ending, Dario has raced up the popularity charts. One of many uses? A Game of Thrones character.

DAX (#636)

Dax Shepard’s unusual given name came from a novel – Harold Robbins’ The Adventurers. The name owes some of its popularity to Shepard, and some to our affection for names like Max and Jax.

DANNY (#641)

If Charlie works without Charles, maybe every Danny doesn’t need to be Daniel, either? George Clooney played Danny in Ocean’s Eleven and two successful sequels.

DAVIS (#645)

A surname meaning son of David, Davis benefits from our love of s-ending boy names.

DILAN (#660)

A take on Dylan, or maybe a name with roots in a separate language. Turkish is one possibility. It’s also heard in South Asia.

DRAKE (#661)

It means dragon … or male duck, depending on the language. But what Drake really brings to mind is the Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer. (And all the controversy that suggests, too.)

DERECK (#664)

One more spelling of Derek, this one boosted by the NBA’s Dereck Lively.

DONALD (#672)

A former favorite, this Scottish import continues to fall in popularity.

DUSTIN (#685)

A surname name that first caught on in the 1960s, as Justin was on the rise. Celebrated actor Dustin Hoffman is among the best-known bearers of the name.

DENNIS (#708)

Quiet and unassuming Dennis comes from an unexpected source – Dionysos, the Greek god of wine and revelry.

DUKE (#709)

Duke brings to mind European aristocrats – and American royalty, thanks to John Wayne. Or, maybe, it’s all basketball, thanks to athletic and academic powerhouse Duke University.

DEXTER (#720)

Sharp and polished, Dexter has been associated with some quirky characters, from Cary Grant’s leading man in The Philadelphia Story to everyone’s favorite vigilante serial killer.

DUTTON (#736)

A stylish surname launched into general use thanks to streaming television hit Yellowstone.

DARIUS (#746)

An ancient name in the key of Atticus, Darius also offers a great meaning: possessing goodness.

DAKARI (#793)

A Shona name meaning “rejoice,” Dakari’s sound is on-trend in the 2020s.

DAMIR (#795)

A relative newcomer to the US Top 1000, Damir has multiple possible origins and a winning sound.

DERRICK (#818)

Another take on Derek.

DARWIN (#839)

A name that nods to world-changing scientist and author Charles Darwin. Soccer star Darwn Núñez gets credit for the name’s rise.

DOUGLAS (#853)

Doug feels a little dated, but Douglas is a dashing classic.

DILLON (#868)

Another spelling of chart-topping Dylan.

DANE (#880)

Dane brings to mind Denmark, but it’s also an English surname related to Dean.

DARIAN (#901)

Darius meets Davian.

DAMARI (#934)

A late-twentieth century invention, Damari succeeds on sound.

DARREN (#953)

A white hot name from the 1960s, still in use today.

DEVON (#955)

Another spelling of Devin, this time borrowed from the English place name.

DANGELO (#960)

Sometimes spelled D’Angelo or DeAngelo, this Italian surname also feels like De-plus-Angelo, in the key of Deandre.

DASH (#967)

Zippy, energetic Dash has graduated from The Incredibles to a boy’s name in the key of Nash and Cash.

DIMITRI (#993)

A Russian take on Demetrius, also spelled Dmitiri.

COOL & UNUSUAL D BOY NAMES

DABNEY

Originally derived from French place name Aubigné, and given to anyone from Aubigné – d’Aubigné, or eventually Dabney in English. Actor Dabney Coleman from the 1960s to the present day, including a brief turn in Yellowstone as John Dutton III’s dad.

DACIAN

Derived from the region in Romania, and a possible substitute for favorites like Julian and Lucian.

DADE

Dane meets Cade, and also a surname ultimately related to David.

DAI

It looks like day, but it comes from a Celtic word meaning “to shine.” It also has roots in Japanese, Vietnamese, and Swahili. Such a short name crosses language barriers effortlessly. One challenge in the US – our familiarity with Kai suggests this name sounds like dye – which might cause some confusion.

DALLEN

Is it Allen with A? Possibly. Chances are it’s more often a last name from English place name Dalling.

DALLIN

It looks a bit like Dallas-with-an-n, but Dallin is a surname possibility. Member of the Church of Latter Day Saints might use it in honor of church leader Dallin H. Oaks.

DAMAR

Damar might be an Indonesian name … but it’s best known thanks to football player Damar Hamlin. He’s best known for suffering a serious health incident while playing in a game for the Buffalo Bills, and even more widely known for his miraculous recovery, as well as his courage and grace overcoming his challenges.

DANGER

It’s a punchline of a middle name, and – yes, really – sometimes heard as a first, too.

DARA, DARACH, DARAGH, DARRAGH

Irish name with roots in legend. Darach and Daragh are different names, but close from an American English perspective. Dara looks more conventionally feminine, but is close to the phonetic pronunciation of all of these choices.

DARRELL, DARYL

Ultimately related to a French place name, Daryl became a hit during the middle of the 20th century in America.

DARROW

A surname related to oak trees, Darrow carries all of that strength. It brings to mind early twentieth century attorney and reformer Clarence Darrow. The sound fits right in with so many o-enders parents have embraced in recent years.

DARTAGNAN

A literary choice, Dartagnan – or D’Artagnan – is a young man aspiring to join the elite military guard known as the King’s Musketeers in seventeenth century France. Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling adventure was written in 1844, and it’s remained a favorite over the centuries. Strictly speaking, he’s Charles de Batz de Castelmore D’Artagnan, making this a surname – but it’s filtered into popular culture as a (very rare) first.

DASHIELL

Twentieth century author Dashiell Hammett puts this name on the list. It was his mother’s maiden name, though the meaning is lost to time. While high energy nickname Dash makes the Top 1000, this longer form remains just outside the rankings.

DATHAN

Dathan was an Old Testament villain, but this Hebrew name has an appealing meaning: fountain.

DAVIAN, DAVION

A modern take on David.

DAYTON

A place name from Ohio, Dayton has a long history of use and a current sound.

DEANDRE

A well-established take on Andrew and Andre, with the popular De prefix.

DECKARD

A German surname, it was boosted as a first by Fast and the Furious franchise character Deckard Shaw, played by Jason Statham in too many movies to count.

DECKER

It sounds like a tough-guy name, but Decker started out as a surname for a roofer or builder.

DEEGAN

Yet another Irish import with a vibrant sound.

DEEPAK

A classic Indian choice, Deepak means lamp in Sanskrit.

DEMETRIUS

The name of ancient kings and saints, elaborate Demetrius fits in with favorites like Atticus today.

DEMPSEY

A good-natured Irish surname name, Dempsey fits right in with Riley. But it leans masculine, possibly thanks to legendary boxer Jack Dempsey, who reigned as world heavyweight champ from 1919 to 1926. His popularity helped pioneer the idea of putting sports on television.

DENALI

Borrowed from the tallest peak in North America, found in Alaska’s Denali National Park.

DENHAM

A polished, English surname that sounds a bit like Denim.

DENIM

A modern word name borrowed from the rugged fabric.

DENISON, DENNISON

A son-of-Dennis surname with potential.

DENZEL

A Cornish name made famous by the incomparable Denzel Washington, winner of two Academy Awards and counting.

DESTRY

A rarity that evokes the American West, thanks to fictional lawman Tom Destry of a series of Hollywood films.

DEV

It might come from Devin/Devon, two 1990s favorites both still in the US Top 1000. But Dev also refers to god in Sanskrit, making it a culture-spanning option.

DEVEREAUX

An elaborate, French surname name with multiple spellings, including Devereux and Deveraux.

DEVLIN

Originally an Irish surname with a cool, current sound.

DEX

Retro cool Dexter ranks in the Top 1000, but just Dex fails to chart. It’s big in the Netherlands, where mini names like Sem, Bram, and Daan are chart-toppers. In the US, it feels more traditional than Jax, but not quite as traditional as Max.

DIGBY

A quirky cool surname possibility.

DION

A cousin to Dennis, Dion is also a form of the Greek god Dionysos. It’s long been used in small numbers.

DIOR

A golden, glittering name, Dior sounds like so many r-ending surname names, but with the benefit of a high fashion pedigree. A unisex name, Dior is slightly more popular for girls.

DIRK

A Dutch name and a Scottish word meaning dagger, Dirk charted in the US Top 1000 in the middle of the twentieth century, but has been caught in style limbo ever since.

DIXON

A middle X surname name that could follow favorites like Jaxon into wider use.

DJANGO

Possibly the best-known Romani name, Django means “I rise” or “awake.” Legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt made it famous. Westerns embraced it, beginning with 1966’s Django and continuing to Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 Django Unchained. 

DODGE

We hear Dodge and think Ford and Chrysler. But Dodge started out as the surname of brothers Horace and John, entrepreneurs who started building automobiles way back in 1914. The surname started out as a nickname for Roger, or sometimes George. It’s short, active, and rich with potential.

DOMINIK

The German and Slavic spelling of Dominic.

DONAL

The Irish form of Donal, also spelled Domnhall.

DONATO

An old school Italian name from a Latin word meaning gift of God. Ninja Turtle fans might know that the artistic Donatello comes from this name, too.

DOUGRAY

It sounds like a Douglas-Raymond smoosh, but Dougray is a Scottish name boosted by actor Dougray Scott.

DOV

It looks like a bird, but Dov is Hebrew for bear.

DOYLE

A brother for Dempsey, Doyle sounds upbeat. But it also brings to mind author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Given the enduring popularity of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, perhaps some fans would consider the surname as a tribute.

DRACO

Harry Potter’s chief tormentor – well, if you overlook Voldemort – was mean boy Draco Malfoy. It comes from the Greek name for a dragon. Like many Wizarding World names, it’s borrowed from a constellation. The name’s history stretches back millennia, though. In the seventh century BC, Athenian legislator Draco established the first written code of law. While it was an improvement over feuds, it was spectacularly harsh – hence, our word draconian. All of it lends Draco an intensity, but with names like Leo and Milo gone mainstream, it might still be wearable.

DRAPER

Originally a last name given to someone who worked with cloth, Draper is now famous as the surname of fictional Mad Men character Don Draper, as well as the fashion line launched by Hollywood A-lister Reese Witherspoon. In that case, it comes from Reese’s family tree. Her grandmother was born Dorothea Draper.

DRUMMER

An occupational name in the key of Carter, Drummer started out as the surname of a musician. We tend to prefer our working surnames a little more obscure these days – yes to Bailey, Archer, and Chandler; no to Driver and Sailor. But that’s changing constantly, and there’s certainly space for Drummer to join Hunter and Baker in the rankings.

DUDLEY

Like many a name, Dudley started out as a polished, aristocratic family name in England. It was long used as a first in the US. It’s stuck in style limbo now, but cuddly Dudley could be almost ready for revival.

DUNCAN

A delightfully Scottish, literary name, Duncan is much less common than you might guess.

DUNE

Depending on your perspective, this name is either the beginning of Frank Herbert’s best-selling sci fi series, or a beachy nature name. Either way, it’s edgier than Luke or Jack, but still very wearable.

DUNSTAN

The name of a medieval saint, Dunstan is rare today – but could fit in with names like Tristan.

DWAYNE, DUANE

A 1960s favorite, Dwayne is the phonetic spelling of the Gaelic Duane. It’s out of favor right now, but chances are it will be back again – eventually.

DWIGHT

A presidential pick in the US, thanks to Dwight Eisenhower – better known as Ike. A younger generation probably thinks first of long-running comedy series The Office.

What are your favorite boy names starting with D?

First published on August 17, 2020, this post was revised substantially and re-published on January 24, 2022; March 6, 2023; July 17, 2023; May 28, 2024; and June 16, 2025.