87 Baby Names That Start With D (Meanings & Origins)

The letter D covers a lot of ground — steady biblical classics like Daniel and Delilah, place names like Dayton and Denver, and international picks like Dimitri and Danish. Below is a curated set of 87 baby names that start with D for boys, girls, unisex, and international naming traditions, each with real context on origin and meaning rather than just a name and a fragment.

Quick Answer: This list of baby names that start with D features popular, unique, and meaningful picks for boys, girls, and gender-neutral naming, with real origins and meanings for each.

If you’re looking for a list of boy names, here is a great list for you.
Need baby girl name inspo? Here is a great list as well.
If you need girl and boy names – here is a list of more than 1400 baby names for both!

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Baby Boy Names That Start With D

Here’s a handpicked selection of classic, cool, and modern baby boy names that start with D:

Daniel – Hebrew for “God is my judge,” one of the most enduring Old Testament names, carried by the prophet Daniel who survived the lion’s den. It’s remained a steady U.S. top-20 name for decades. Dan or Danny both work as nicknames.
Dylan – Welsh for “son of the sea” or “great tide,” tied to a figure in Welsh mythology associated with the ocean. It surged in visibility through poet Dylan Thomas and musician Bob Dylan.
Dominic – Latin for “belonging to the Lord,” carried by Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican religious order. It has steady Catholic naming tradition behind it. Dom is the natural nickname.
Damon – Greek, associated with loyalty through the myth of Damon and Pythias, two friends whose devotion became proverbial. It has a warm, dependable sound.
Dean – An English occupational and title name referring to a church or university official, Dean has a short, retro coolness that peaked mid-20th century, helped by actor James Dean.
Desmond – Irish, meaning “from South Munster,” popularized internationally through Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Des is a natural nickname.
Dax – A modern invented name without deep historical roots, Dax has a sharp, contemporary sound that’s grown through use by several celebrity parents.
Darius – Persian for “possesses goodness” or “upholds the good,” carried by several ancient Persian emperors including Darius the Great. It has real imperial weight.
Dexter – Latin for “right-handed” or skillful, Dexter carries a clever, sharp-witted feel, reinforced by the TV series of the same name.
Diego – The Spanish form of Santiago (Saint James), Diego carries deep religious and cultural roots across Spanish-speaking countries.
Damian – Greek for “to tame” or “subdue,” Damian has ancient roots through Saint Damian, twin patron saint of physicians. It picked up an unfortunate horror association through The Omen, though it’s remained steadily used regardless.
Derrick – English/German, derived from Theodoric, meaning “ruler of the people,” Derrick also became the generic word for a lifting crane, named after a 17th-century hangman.
Duncan – Scottish for “brown warrior” or “dark chief,” Duncan carries Shakespearean weight as the murdered king in Macbeth.
Douglas – Scottish for “dark stream” or “black water,” originally a place and clan name before becoming a first name. Doug is the natural nickname.
Dante – Italian/Latin for “enduring” or “steadfast,” forever tied to poet Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. It carries serious literary weight.
Deacon – Greek for “messenger” or “servant,” Deacon carries direct religious office meaning, referring to a clergy rank in several Christian denominations.
Dorian – Greek, referring to the ancient Dorian people of Greece, Dorian gained lasting literary association through Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Donovan – Irish for “dark-haired chieftain,” Donovan carries real Gaelic clan history and gained musical visibility through 1960s folk singer Donovan.
Denzel – Cornish for “from the high stronghold,” Denzel gained massive visibility through actor Denzel Washington, whose own name honors a family minister.
Drake – English for “dragon” or an archaic word for a male duck, Drake carries a bold, fierce sound reinforced by the rapper Drake’s cultural dominance.
Darwin – Old English for “dear friend,” Darwin carries obvious scientific association through naturalist Charles Darwin.
Dash – Short for Dashiell, or used as a standalone word name meaning quick movement, Dash has an energetic, playful sound.
Duke – An English title name meaning “leader” or “nobleman,” Duke works as a bold standalone choice, reinforced by musician Duke Ellington.
Dario – The Italian/Spanish form of Darius, meaning “possessing good,” Dario carries the same imperial Persian root with a romance-language sound.
Dayton – English for “bright and sunny town,” originally a place name for the Ohio city, Dayton has a clean, modern sound as a first name.

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Table of Contents

Baby Girl Names That Start With D

Explore elegant and empowering baby girl names that start with D—from sweet and vintage to modern and bold:

Delilah – Hebrew for “delicate” or possibly “flirtatious,” carried by the Old Testament figure who famously cut Samson’s hair. It’s grown steadily in the U.S. over the past decade. Lila is a natural nickname.
Daisy – An English flower name referring to the “day’s eye,” since the flower opens at dawn and closes at dusk. It’s also historically used as a nickname for Margaret, since “marguerite” means daisy in French.
Daphne – Greek for “laurel tree,” tied to the mythological nymph who transformed into a laurel to escape Apollo. It carries real mythological depth beneath its light, pretty sound.
Danica – Slavic for “morning star,” Danica carries a hopeful, celestial meaning and gained visibility through race car driver Danica Patrick.
Demi – A short French-rooted name meaning “half,” Demi is most commonly a nickname for Demetria but has grown as a standalone choice, especially through actress Demi Moore.
Della – A diminutive most often short for Adela or Adelaide, meaning “noble,” Della has a warm, vintage sound that’s stood on its own for generations.
Davina – The Scottish feminine form of David, meaning “beloved,” Davina carries a soft, romantic sound. Vina is a nickname option.
Daria – Persian-rooted, related to Darius and meaning “possesses goodness” or “wealthy,” Daria has a strong, confident sound, reinforced by the animated MTV character of the same name.
Dove – An English word name referring to the bird long associated with peace, Dove carries obvious symbolic meaning across multiple religious traditions.
Darla – An American diminutive likely related to Darlene, Darla has old Southern charm reinforced by the Little Rascals character of the same name.
Delaney – Irish for “descendant of the challenger” or loosely “from the alder grove,” Delaney started as a surname before crossing into common first-name use for girls. Del or Laney both work as nicknames.
Dina – Hebrew for “judged” or “vindicated,” a variant of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob in Genesis. It has a short, clean sound.
Dalia – Hebrew/Arabic for “gentle branch” or “grapevine,” Dalia carries warm, nature-rooted meaning and is common across both Jewish and Arabic naming traditions.
Daniella – The elongated, romance-language form of Danielle, meaning “God is my judge,” Daniella has formal elegance with built-in nickname flexibility. Dani or Ella both work.
Desirae – A phonetic variant of Desiree, itself French for “desired,” Desirae carries a romantic, wished-for meaning parents often choose specifically for that sentiment. Des or Desi work as nicknames.
Dasha – A Russian nickname for Daria or Darya, Dasha has grown as a standalone name in the U.S., carrying real Slavic roots beneath its short, friendly sound.
Dionna – A modern elaboration on Dion or Dionne, ultimately tied to the Greek goddess Dione, mother of Aphrodite, Dionna carries mythological weight beneath a contemporary sound.
Deborah – Hebrew for “bee,” Deborah appears in the Old Testament as a prophetess and military leader, one of the Bible’s most powerful female figures. Deb or Debbie both work as nicknames.
Danelle – A variant elaboration of Danielle, meaning “God is my judge,” Danelle offers a slightly softer, less common spelling of a familiar name.
Dulce – Spanish for “sweet,” Dulce carries its meaning directly and plainly, common in Spanish-speaking communities and tied to Marian devotion through “Dulce Nombre” traditions.
Drucilla – A variant of Drusilla, an ancient Roman family name, Drucilla carries gothic literary weight through its use for a vampire character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as appearing in Great Expectations.

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Unique Baby Names That Start With D

Looking for something you won’t hear at every playground? These rare D baby names will help your child stand out:

Dashiell – A French-derived surname turned given name, most famously carried by author Dashiell Hammett, creator of Sam Spade. It has a literary, hardboiled coolness. Dash is the natural nickname.
Daxton – A modern surname-style elaboration of Dax, Daxton has no deep historical root but fits current trends favoring “-ton” ending boy names.
Dariel – A modern blend likely combining Darius and Ariel, Dariel has no confirmed historical etymology, making it a contemporary invented choice rather than a traditional name.
Dior – Taken directly from the French luxury fashion house founded by Christian Dior, Dior carries an obvious high-fashion association when used as a given name.
Delta – Greek, the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet and the geological term for a river’s mouth, Delta carries both a scientific and geographic double meaning.
Draven – A modern invented name, likely popularized through The Crow character Eric Draven, Draven has a dark, dramatic sound without deeper historical roots.
Denver – Named directly for Colorado’s capital city, itself named after territorial governor James W. Denver, this place name carries an outdoorsy, mountain-adjacent identity.
Darcy – An Anglo-Norman surname meaning “from Arcy,” Darcy carries enormous literary weight through Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It works for either gender.
Dagan – An ancient Semitic name referring to a Mesopotamian god of grain and fertility, Dagan carries real ancient Near Eastern religious history.
Dayanara – An anglicized form of Deianira, the wife of Hercules in Greek mythology, Dayanara carries real mythological roots beneath its modern Spanish-language sound.
Dalen – A modern surname-style name of uncertain origin, possibly related to “dale” (valley), Dalen has a soft, balanced sound that works for either gender.
Dune – An English word name taken directly from the sand formation, also carrying literary weight through Frank Herbert’s Dune novels.
Dresden – Named for the German city, historically significant both for its baroque architecture and its devastating World War II bombing, Dresden carries real, weighty European history.

Unisex Baby Names That Start With D

Prefer a gender-neutral name? These unisex D names are flexible and full of personality:

Drew – A short form of Andrew or Andrea, Drew has functioned as a complete standalone name for either gender for decades, reinforced by actress Drew Barrymore.
Dakota – Named for the Dakota people and the U.S. states that bear their name, Dakota carries real Indigenous American history and has been used for either gender since the 1980s.
Devyn – A modern phonetic variant of Devon, itself an English place name, Devyn works for either gender with a soft, contemporary sound.
Darian – A modern variant possibly related to Darius or Adrian, Darian works for either gender without deep independent historical roots of its own.
Dallas – Named for the Texas city, itself likely honoring U.S. Vice President George M. Dallas, this place name has a bold, confident sound and works for either gender.
Dusty – A nickname-turned-name most associated with baseball figures and a retro Americana feel, Dusty works for either gender, though usage has traditionally skewed male.
Drue – A modern phonetic variant of Drew, Drue offers a softer spelling alternative while carrying the same “wise” Germanic root through Andrew.
Davin – A Scandinavian name possibly meaning “bright Finn” or related to David, Davin works for either gender with a clean, modern sound.
Darien – Named for the Isthmus of Darien in Panama, historically significant in colonial trade history, Darien carries real geographic weight and works for either gender.
Dacy – A modern short name of uncertain origin, Dacy has a playful, light sound and works for either gender without a deep historical root.
Dallis – A modern variant of Dallas, Dallis offers a softer spelling while keeping the same place-name association, working well for either gender.

International D Baby Names

Add a cultural dimension with these international baby names that start with D:

Dimitri (Greek) – A form of Demetrius, meaning “devoted to Demeter,” goddess of the harvest, Dimitri carries deep Greek mythological and Orthodox Christian roots, common across Russia and Eastern Europe as well.
Dania (Hebrew/Arabic) – A feminine form related to Daniel, meaning “God is my judge,” Dania is used across both Hebrew and Arabic naming traditions.
Danilo (Slavic) – A Slavic form of Daniel, meaning “God is my judge,” Danilo is common across Serbia, Croatia, and other Slavic-speaking countries.
Duarte (Portuguese) – Meaning “wealthy guardian,” Duarte carries real royal history through King Duarte I of Portugal in the 15th century.
Domingo (Spanish) – Meaning “born on Sunday,” Domingo has direct religious significance tied to the Christian Sabbath, and is also the name of Saint Dominic in Spanish.
Donatello (Italian) – Meaning roughly “gift,” Donatello carries serious art history weight through the Renaissance sculptor of the same name, best known in the U.S. through the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character.
Domenica (Italian) – The feminine form of Dominic, meaning “belonging to the Lord” or “born on Sunday,” Domenica carries the same religious roots with a distinctly Italian sound.
Dijana (Slavic) – A Slavic variation of Diana, referring to the Roman goddess of the hunt and moon, Dijana carries the same mythological weight with a Balkan-language spelling.
Danish (Arabic) – Meaning “knowledge” or “wisdom,” Danish is a common given name across Pakistan, India, and the broader South Asian Muslim community.
Darija (Slavic) – A variant of Daria, carrying the same Persian root shared with Darius, Darija has Slavic-language warmth.
Derk (Dutch) – A Dutch short form of Derek or Theodoric, meaning “ruler of the people,” Derk has a strong, compact sound common in the Netherlands.
Dunja (Serbian/Croatian) – Meaning “quince,” the fruit long associated with love and fertility in Balkan folklore, Dunja carries real cultural and culinary symbolism.
Derya (Turkish) – Meaning “sea” or “ocean,” Derya carries broad, expansive natural imagery and is a common given name in Turkey.
Dritan (Albanian) – Meaning “light,” Dritan carries hopeful, illuminating symbolism within Albanian naming traditions.
Djamila (Arabic) – Meaning “beautiful,” Djamila is common across North Africa and the broader Arabic-speaking world.
Davor (Croatian) – Referring to a figure from Slavic mythology sometimes associated with a god of war, Davor carries real pre-Christian Slavic cultural roots.
Damla (Turkish) – Meaning “raindrop,” Damla carries soft, gentle natural imagery within Turkish naming traditions.

Choosing the Right D Name

How to choose the best baby name that starts with D:

Think about initials and how the name flows with your last name
Consider meaning and cultural relevance
Try saying it out loud in full — does it sound right
Check how it might be shortened (nicknames matter!)
Test it with your other kids’ names for sibling harmony

Bonus Baby Name Tips

Use a baby name book to explore even more meanings.
Think seasonally: a “D” name like Dahlia feels springy, while Dimitri suits winter babies.

FAQ: Baby Names That Start With D

What is the most popular baby name that starts with D?

For boys, Daniel and Dylan consistently top the charts. For girls, Delilah and Daisy are among the most popular D names according to SSA baby name data.

Are there any gender-neutral D names?

Yes. Names like Drew, Dakota, and Devyn work well for any gender and are increasingly popular among modern parents.

What are some unique baby names that start with D?

Try Dashiell, Delta, Dior, or Dresden if you want something stylish and uncommon.

Do D names have specific meanings?

Yes, many D names come from Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and Slavic roots, with meanings like “beloved,” “judged,” “grace,” or “ruler.” It’s worth checking the full origin and meaning to see what resonates with your family.

Where can I find more name inspiration?

Check out our Brazilian boy names post for more global inspiration.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re drawn to timeless names like Daniel or dreaming up something bold like Delta, these baby names that start with D offer a wide variety of choices to suit any style. Bookmark your favorites, discuss with your partner, and enjoy the process of naming your baby