Find out how popular the first name Destiny has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Destiny by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Destiny is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Destiny being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 704 female babies and 6 male babies born with the name Destiny.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby boys were named Destiny in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Destiny

The name Destiny is an English word derived from the Latin word "destinare", which means "to make firm or establish". It originates from the concept of fate or a predetermined course of events that one is bound to follow.

In ancient Roman culture, the idea of destiny was deeply ingrained, and the word "destinare" was often used to describe the predetermined path that individuals were believed to be destined for. This concept was closely tied to the Roman belief in the power of the gods and their influence over human affairs.

The earliest recorded use of the name Destiny can be traced back to the 16th century in English literature. It was often used as a symbolic name to represent the idea of fate or a predetermined path in life.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Destiny was Destiny Weston, an English woman born in 1624. She was a prominent figure in the Puritan community and is known for her writings on religious themes.

In the 18th century, Destiny Douglass (1701-1782) was a notable Scottish philosopher and writer who explored the concept of free will and its relationship with destiny. Her works influenced the intellectual discourse of the time and contributed to the debate on determinism.

During the 19th century, the name Destiny gained popularity, particularly in the United States. One notable figure was Destiny Brown (1826-1895), an American abolitionist and women's rights activist who played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement.

In the 20th century, the name Destiny became more widely adopted as a given name. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Destiny's Child, the popular American R&B girl group formed in the late 1990s. The group, which included notable members such as Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, achieved tremendous success and helped to popularize the name further.

Another notable figure with the name Destiny was Destiny Phillips (1967-2004), an American actress and model who appeared in several films and television shows in the 1990s and early 2000s.

While the name Destiny has its roots in ancient Roman culture and the concept of fate, it has evolved over time to become a popular given name, often chosen for its symbolic meaning and association with a predetermined path or purpose in life.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Destiny was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Destiny, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!