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Name Lineage

    The first name DeForest

    A boy’s name meaning “from”.

    3 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    DeForest means “from”.

    Rare French surname, from de (“from”) + forest. Compare Deforrest, Defrees, Defreest.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named DeForest at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2001, 5 boys born in the United States were named DeForest, the 10,963rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1920, when 26 were.

    01530 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    667
    babies named DeForest since 1880
    #10,963
    rank in 2001
    1920
    peak year

    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

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named DeForest

    4 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • DeForest Kelley
      American actor (1920–1999)
    • DeForest Buckner
      American football player (born 1994)
    • DeForest Richards
      American politician (1846-1903)
    • Humphrey Bogart
      American actor (1899–1957)

    Questions

    What does the name DeForest mean?
    DeForest means “from”.
    Is DeForest a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 667 US babies named DeForest since 1880 were boys.
    When was DeForest most popular?
    1920 in the United States, when 26 babies were named DeForest, its highest rank at 1,467th.
    What are other spellings of DeForest?
    Deforest, Forest, Deforet and Foret.
    Is DeForest also a surname?
    Yes. DeForest is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.