The first name Dean
A boy’s name meaning “valley”, “dane”, “norseman”.
Pronounced /diːn/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Dean means “valley”, “dane”, “norseman”.
The surname or given name is of multiple origins, depending on context: * As an English surname, from Middle English dene (“valley”). * Also as an English surname, from the noun dean. Cognate to Deacon. * Also as an English surname, from the personal name Deyne, a rhyming form of Reynald (see Reginald). * As an Irish surname, variant of Deane. * As a Scottish surname, from Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, itself from the noun meaning valley. * Old English Dene (“Dane, Norseman”) * Hebrew דין (“law, judgment”) and Arabic دين (“way of life, creed”)
More names that mean life.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 42 boys were named Dean, making it the 782nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 719 births (#80).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Dean with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Dean at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 2,876 boys born in the United States were named Dean, the 125th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1961, when 4,933 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Dean
137 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Dean MartinAmerican singer, actor, comedian and film producer (1917–1995)
- Dean AchesonAmerican statesman and lawyer (1893-1971)
- Harry Dean StantonAmerican actor (1926–2017)
- Richard Dean AndersonAmerican actor (born 1950)
- Jeffrey Dean MorganAmerican actor, born 1966
- Dean KoontzAmerican writer and screenwriter (born 1945)
- Dean StockwellAmerican actor (1936–2021)
- Dean JaggerAmerican actor (1903-1991)
- Dean HendersonEnglish association football player (born 1997)
- Dean HuijsenDutch association football player, born 2005
- Dean CainAmerican actor (born 1966)
- Dean EdwardsAmerican comedian and actor, born 1970
Questions
- What does the name Dean mean?
- Dean means “valley”, “dane”, “norseman”.
- How popular is the name Dean?
- In 2025, 42 boys born in England and Wales were named Dean, ranking 782nd. Its peak was 1996, with 719 births.
- What are nicknames for Dean?
- Common nicknames for Dean include Deano.
- Is Dean a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 195,844 US babies named Dean since 1880 were boys.
- When was Dean most popular?
- 1961 in the United States, when 4,933 babies were named Dean, its highest rank at 84th.
- How do you pronounce Dean?
- Dean is /diːn/, one syllable.
- What are other spellings of Dean?
- Deanna.
- Is Dean also a surname?
- Yes. Dean is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.