Delightful Baby Boy Names That Start With D

These delightful and daring baby boy names that start with D will help you on your name search.

Searching for the perfect name for your baby boy? Picking a name is no easy task, so here are a few rules of thumb. Forget about trends, and go with a name that ages well. Naming a baby after fruit might seem fun at the moment, but it won’t be so fun when Apple has her first job interview.

But if you need a jumping-off point to start your search, why not focus on a specific letter in the alphabet? For instance, there are a lot of delightful baby boy names that start with the letter D. From classic names like David and Daniel to more modern ones like Dawson and Dax, these D names might be the perfect fit for your little guy.

Dallas

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Origin: Irish and Scottish

Strangely, this popular city name actually comes from a Scottish word meaning “of the meadow,” or “valley of water.” Dallas, Texas, isn’t exactly the greenest city, but it does make for an edgy-sounding baby boy name.

Damian

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Origin: Greek

Damian is an old name coming from the Greek word “damianos,” meaning “to overcome or”conquer.” It also has ties to Damia, the Greek goddess of fertility. While it originated in Greece, the baby boy name is most popular in Ireland and England.

Dane

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Origin: English

Dane has a straightforward meaning: “from Denmark.” If you have Danish heritage, it’s a perfect fit. It’s also the name of a popular dog breed, the Great Dane.

D’Angelo

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Origin: Latin and Italian

D’Angelo is a variation of the Italian name Angelo. Angelo comes from the Latin word “angelus,” which means “messenger” or “angel.”

Daniel

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Origin: Hebrew

Daniel is one of the most popular and timeless baby boy names that start with D. Daniel is a biblical name meaning “God is my judge.” In the Bible, a man named Daniel survives being cast into a lion’s den and later becomes a powerful prophet.

The name has popped up in the U.S. Social Security Administration’s (SSA) top 10 baby name chart several times since the 1950s, and it remains popular as both a first and a middle name.

Dante

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Origin: Spanish and Italian

Coming from the Italian name Durante, Dante means “enduring.” This virtuous baby boy name might remind you of the famous Dante’s “Inferno” or “The Divine Comedy,” but it’s also been a popular baby name for over a century.

Darcy

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Origin: French

Made popular by “Pride and Prejudice’s” stormy and handsome Mr. Darcy, the name actually comes from a Gaelic word meaning “dark.” When spelled “Darcie,” it’s also a common French name for baby girls.

Darren

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Origin: Irish

Darren, both easy to spell and say, is an Irish and Gaelic name that means “great.” Babies named Darren are destined for greatness, like American actor Darren Criss and football player Darren Waller.

Darwin

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Origin: Old English

Darwin, an Old English name, was made famous by the naturalist Charles Darwin. He was best known for his contributions to our understanding of evolution, leading to the modern invention of the sarcastic “Darwin awards.“

Dark-humor aside, the name Darwin has a perfectly lovely meaning: “dear friend.”

Dash

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Origin: American

The name Dash is an American name that means “to run” or “to sprint.” In the movie “The Incredibles,” Dash was known for his super-speed and energetic, spirited personality.

Davian

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Origin: Hebrew

Davian, a mashup of David and Ian, is like a modern update of the classic name David. The name David itself has biblical roots, but its meaning isn’t religious in the slightest. Coming from the Hebrew word “dawid,” David means “beloved.”

Davian can be shortened to Dave or Davie, but it also sounds cool as it is.

David

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Origin: Hebrew

Speaking of David, in 1960, it was the top baby name in the U.S. It has remained in the top 20 for decades and has been used for centuries in countries around the world. If you’re hoping to have a talented baby boy, maybe he’ll take after King David, a mythological shepherd, poet, musician, soldier and prophet who casually defeated a giant like it was nothing.

Dawson

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Origin: British

The baby boy name Dawson didn’t get much use until the show “Dawson’s Creek” came out in the late 1990s. Even after more than 20 years, the name has remained a popular choice, ranking No. 336 on the SSA chart. It means “son of David.”

Dax

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Origin: French

This short and sweet boys’ name has plenty of attitude. Originating in France, Dax is the name of an ancient town that’s been around since the days of the Roman empire. It’s also the name of actor Dax Shepard, who happens to be married to Kristin Bell.

Delaney

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Origin: French

Delaney is more commonly used as a girl’s name, but that wasn’t always the case. It began as the French name “De Annou,” meaning “alder grove.” Alders were once believed to be sacred and magical, so Delaney can be considered a magical name.

Dempsey

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Origin: Irish

Dempsey was originally a surname of Irish and Gaelic origins before it evolved into a popular boy’s name meaning “proud.” It was made famous by William Harrison “Jack” Dempsey, a boxer who was the world heavyweight champ for seven years straight in the 1920s.

Denver

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Origin: French

Denver is mostly associated with the city in Colorado these days, but the boy’s name has French and Old English roots meaning “green valley.” Baby names derived from places, like Tennessee and Florence, tend to sound edgy and modern.

Denzel

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Origin: Cornish

The name Denzel means “from the high stronghold.” It was seldom used until Denzel Washington came around with his iconic deep voice, inspiring a wave of baby Denzels. Fun fact: Denzel Washington was named after his father, who was named after the doctor who delivered him.

Derrek

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Origin: German

Derrek, also spelled Derek or Derrick, means “power of the tribe.” It’s a solid, earthy-sounding baby boy name that serves as a reminder to your son that he’s part of a family that has his back.

Desmond

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Origin: Irish

The name Desmond is often recognized as the name of the South African cleric who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-apartheid activism — not a bad legacy to follow! Its roots refer to what was once a province in Ireland.

Devin

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Origin: Irish

The name Devin was insanely popular during the 1990s, particularly in families with Irish roots. Derived from the Irish “dámh,” Devin translates to “poet.”

There are multiple spellings of Devin, including Devyn and Devon, and several famous athletes bear the name.

Devonte

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Origin: Spanish and African

The name Devonte has roots in several languages. It can be considered an African American variation of Devon, but in Spanish, it means “fighter of wrongs.” It also means “divine” in French.

Don’t sweat the details. Names have different meanings in different cultures all the time. If you love the sound of it, Devonte can mean whatever you’d like!

Diego

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Origin: Spanish

Diego is a Spanish name meaning “supplanter” or “one who takes over.” Etymologists believe it evolved from the name Santiago, which has Latin roots meaning “teaching.” Maybe baby Diego will become a future Secretary of Education?

Dion

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Origin: French

Dion, pronounced “DEE-on,” is a boy’s name with French and Greek origins. It’s the shortened version of Dionysius, one of the Greek gods. If you’re expecting a boy and are surprised with a baby girl instead, just change Dion to Dionne, and voila! Your baby boy name is now a beautiful girls’ name.

Dominic

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Origin: Latin

The name Dominic is well-loved across many cultures, particularly Italian and French. Meaning “lord,” the name Dominic took off in the 13th century after Saint Dominic founded an order of monks.

In Roman Catholic tradition, it’s a name given to boys born on Sundays, but Dominic is now a trendy name for babies of all faiths. It’s currently ranked No. 151 on the SSA chart.

Donald

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Origin: Scottish

Donald, derived from the Gaelic name Dòmhnall, means “world-wielder” or “world-ruler.” Strangely enough, many Donald’s have lived up to the title.

In addition to being the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump, there’s also football player Donald Driver, musician Donald Glover and several actors named Donald.

Dorian

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Origin: Greek

Dorian can be either a boys’ name or a girls’ name, meaning “descendant of Doris.” Doris was a beautiful region of Greece and was also the name of famous actress and activist Doris Day.

Douglas

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Origin: Scottish

Douglas, often shortened to Doug, comes from the Gaelic word meaning “black river.” This nature-inspired baby boy name symbolizes strength and steadfast determination, like a powerful river patiently carving its path through stone.

Drake

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Origin: British

Drake has possibly the coolest meaning of any name on this list: dragon. Who wouldn’t want to be named after a fire-breathing flying reptile? It doesn’t get more epic than that.

While Drake is usually recognized as the name of the rapper, it’s been around since the seventh century. It was also the surname of Francis Drake, an English explorer.

Drew

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Origin: Welsh

The unisex baby name Drew means “wise.” It’s not flashy or edgy, but isn’t wisdom better than pizazz in the long run?

Duke

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Origin: Latin

Duke has Latin roots meaning “leader.” It’s also used as a royal title, like Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It’s an ideal name for a child who’s destined to lead the next generation.

Duncan

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Origin: Scottish

Duncan was much more popular in the 1990s than it is today, but the Scottish and Gaelic name has a cool meaning: “dark warrior.”

Dustin

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Origin: German

The Old English and German name Dustin was ultra-trendy in the 1980s and ’90s, meaning “brave warrior.” Funnily enough, it can also mean “dusty place,” so don’t take name meanings too seriously.

Dwayne

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Origin: Irish

Dwayne, a one-syllable name of Gaelic origin, means “swarthy” or “dark.” It’s an ancient name, but it experienced a leap in popularity thanks to Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, an actor and former pro wrestler.

Dylan

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Origin: Welsh

Dylan, made famous by Bob Dylan, has been a classic baby boy name for decades, currently ranking No. 51 on the name charts. It means “son of the sea,” but it can also be a name for girls. Feel free to alter the spelling to make it more unique; Dillon or Dillan works just as well.