Davelyn
Of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "beloved and dear friend".
Name Census estimates that about 70 living Americans carry the first name Davelyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Davelyn today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Davelyn births was 1965 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Davelyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Davelyn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
70
~ 1 in 4,896,491 Americans
Peak year
1965
8 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1977 SSA rank
#7,020
Tracked since 1949
Popularity
Davelyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Davelyn from the 1940s through to the 1970s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 40 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Davelyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Davelyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Davelyns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Davelyn
The given name Davelyn has its origins deeply rooted in the ancient Celtic cultures of the British Isles. It is derived from the Old Welsh word "dafelen," which means "little wave" or "ripple." This name's association with the natural elements of water and the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides has imbued it with a sense of fluidity and grace.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be traced back to the 6th century CE, where it was mentioned in an ancient Welsh manuscript known as the "Book of Taliesin." This text, which contained a collection of poems and mythological tales, featured a character named Davelyn, who was revered for her beauty and wisdom.
In the 12th century, the name gained further prominence when it was bestowed upon a prominent figure in the court of King Henry II of England. Lady Davelyn de Montfort, born in 1145, was a celebrated noblewoman and a patron of the arts, known for her patronage of poets and troubadours.
Fast forward to the 16th century, and we encounter Davelyn Gwyndwr, born in 1523, a fierce Welsh patriot and leader of the rebellion against the English rule. Her unwavering determination and courage in the face of adversity earned her a place in the annals of Welsh history.
Moving into the realm of literature, the name Davelyn found its way into the works of the renowned British poet and playwright, William Shakespeare. In his play "The Tempest," written around 1610, one of the characters is named Davelyn, a nod to the name's Celtic roots and its association with the sea.
Another notable figure bearing this name was Davelyn Forsyth, born in 1785, a pioneering female botanist and explorer. Her contributions to the field of plant taxonomy and her daring expeditions to remote regions of the world earned her widespread recognition and respect among her contemporaries.
Throughout history, the name Davelyn has carried with it a sense of strength, resilience, and a connection to the natural world. Its melodic cadence and Celtic origins have given it a timeless quality, making it a name that continues to resonate across generations.
People
Davelyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Davelyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Davelyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Davelyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 70 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Davelyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 4,896,491 US residents.
Is Davelyn a common name?
We classify Davelyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 59.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 87 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Davelyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Davelyn was 1965, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Davelyn is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Davelyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Davelyn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.