Devon
Devon is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Deep-valley dwellers or defender; derived from the English county name Devon.
Origin and history
Devon is an English name derived from the county of Devon in southwestern England. The placename traces back to the Celtic Dumnonii tribe, likely meaning deep-valley dwellers. In the United States, it gained significant popularity in the late 20th century as a unisex name, though it is given predominantly to boys.
Popularity in the United States
72,673 babies in the United States have been named Devon since 1880. It ranks #390 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #800.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.2 %)
- NY (7.2 %)
- TX (5.9 %)
- FL (5.6 %)
- PA (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 86 |
| 1920-1930 | 257 |
| 1930-1940 | 334 |
| 1940-1950 | 313 |
| 1950-1960 | 474 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,129 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,101 |
| 1980-1990 | 9,264 |
| 1990-2000 | 28,422 |
| 2000-2010 | 21,636 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,949 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,708 |
Famous people named Devon
- Devon Sawa: Actor
- Devon Bostick: Actor
- Devon Devonshire: Athlete
Nicknames
Dev
Fun facts
- The name is taken directly from Devonshire, a coastal county in southwest England famous for its scenic landscapes.
- Devon rose sharply in U.S. popularity during the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a modern staple unisex name.