Dette
A Norwegian feminine name derived from a feminine form of the given name Detlev.
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Dette. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dette today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dette births was 1965 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dette. 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 Dette. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
1965
7 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1974 SSA rank
#7,943
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Dette: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dette from the 1960s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 30 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dette 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 Dette during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dette
The given name Dette has its origins in the Old Norse language, with roots traced back to the Viking Age of the 8th to 11th centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "dett," which means "descent" or "to descend." The name was primarily used in Scandinavia and the regions influenced by Norse culture during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Dette can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of medieval Norse literature. Specifically, the name appears in the Saga of Burnt Njal, which chronicles events from the late 10th century in Iceland. However, the exact individual bearing this name is not well-documented.
Throughout history, there have been a handful of notable figures who carried the name Dette. One such individual was Dette Knutsson, a Swedish nobleman and military commander who lived in the 15th century. He played a significant role in the Swedish-Danish conflicts during the Kalmar Union period.
Another historical figure was Dette Ivarsson, a Norwegian explorer and trader from the 13th century. Records suggest that he was among the first Norwegians to establish trade routes with Greenland and parts of North America, contributing to the exploration and expansion of Norse influence in the region.
In the realm of art and literature, there was Dette Thorvaldsdatter, a Danish painter and poet from the 16th century. She is known for her intricate portraits and her collection of poems that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Lastly, Dette Magnusdottir, an Icelandic scholar and historian from the 17th century, made significant contributions to the preservation and study of ancient Norse texts and manuscripts. Her works were instrumental in providing insights into the language, culture, and traditions of the Viking Age.
While the name Dette has its roots in the Norse language and culture, it has since become less common and has evolved into various spellings and forms across different regions. However, its historical significance remains an interesting reflection of the rich cultural heritage of Scandinavia and the influence of the Vikings on the region's language and naming traditions.
People
Dette + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dette 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
Dette: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dette?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dette 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Dette a common name?
We classify Dette as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 36 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dette most popular?
The single biggest year for Dette was 1965, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dette is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dette a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dette 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.