Deuce
A diminutive form of "deux," the French word for "two."
Name Census estimates that about 228 living Americans carry the first name Deuce. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Deuce today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deuce births was 2024 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deuce. 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.
People living today
228
~ 1 in 1,503,309 Americans
Peak year
2024
41 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,999
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Deuce: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deuce from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 127 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
Deuce 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 Deuce during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Deuces live
Origin
Meaning and history of Deuce
The given name Deuce is a relatively modern invention, with its origins rooted in the English language and American culture. It is believed to have originated as a slang term in the early 20th century, derived from the word "two" or its numeric representation "2".
In the realm of sports, particularly in baseball and card games, the term "deuce" has been used to refer to the number two, such as a score of two runs or the playing card with two symbols. This association likely contributed to the adoption of Deuce as a given name, possibly conveying a sense of distinction or uniqueness.
While there are no known historical references or ancient texts explicitly mentioning the name Deuce, its emergence can be traced back to the early decades of the 20th century in the United States. The earliest recorded examples of the name's usage are found in birth records and census data from that era.
One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the name Deuce was Deuce Spann Sr. (1912-1983), an American blues singer and guitarist from Louisiana. His unique moniker added to his persona as a pioneering figure in the blues genre.
Another famous Deuce was Deuce Tatum (1911-1992), an American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1930s. His given name, along with his athletic prowess, made him a notable figure in sports history.
In the world of entertainment, Deuce Bigalow, a fictional character portrayed by actor Rob Schneider in the 1999 comedy film "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo," brought attention to the name. While not a real person, the character's name became a cultural reference and contributed to the name's recognition.
Deuce Vaughn (born 2001) is a current American football player who gained fame as a standout running back for the Kansas State Wildcats. His unique name and impressive on-field performances have made him a recognizable figure in college football.
Deuce Martinez (born 1973) is an American artist and painter, known for his vibrant and colorful works inspired by pop culture and urban life. His artistic endeavors have helped to further popularize the name Deuce, particularly in creative circles.
While the name Deuce may not have a deep historical lineage or ancient origins, its emergence in the 20th century and association with notable individuals across various fields have contributed to its recognition and widespread use as a given name.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Deuce
People
Deuce + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deuce 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
Deuce: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deuce?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 228 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deuce 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 1,503,309 US residents.
Is Deuce a common name?
We classify Deuce as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 230 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deuce most popular?
The single biggest year for Deuce was 2024, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deuce is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Deuce a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deuce in the SSA data are male. 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.