De
De is a boy's name of Other origin.
Meaning
Meaning varies by origin; in Chinese contexts it often means 'virtue' or 'morality' (德), while in Vietnamese it can mean 'virtuous' or 'kind'.
Origin and history
De is used as a given name in several global contexts, including Chinese and Vietnamese naming traditions, or as a modern short name. Historically in the United States, it has appeared occasionally as a given name for males since the late 19th century. Given its brevity, it is relatively rare as an independent standalone first name in contemporary birth records.
Popularity in the United States
681 babies in the United States have been named De since 1880. It ranks #3995 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- NY (38.4 %)
- DC (12 %)
- VA (10 %)
- PA (8.8 %)
- AZ (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 29 |
| 1920-1930 | 19 |
| 1930-1940 | 11 |
| 1940-1950 | 5 |
| 1950-1960 | 6 |
| 1960-1970 | 15 |
| 1970-1980 | 36 |
| 1980-1990 | 77 |
| 1990-2000 | 341 |
| 2000-2010 | 135 |
| 2010-2019 | 7 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- At just two letters, De is among the shortest possible given names recorded in U.S. birth registry data.
- While often recognized as a prefix in Romance languages, De functions as a distinct given name primarily through East Asian transliterations.