Devean
French variant of the name David, which means "beloved."
Name Census estimates that about 196 living Americans carry the first name Devean. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Devean today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Devean births was 2004 (59 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Devean. 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
196
~ 1 in 1,748,747 Americans
Peak year
2004
59 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2009 SSA rank
#11,352
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Devean: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Devean from the 1990s through to the 2000s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 193 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
Devean 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 Devean during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Deveans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Devean
The name Devean has its origins in the ancient Celtic languages, with roots tracing back to the early medieval era across the British Isles. It is believed to have derived from the Proto-Celtic word "dēwos," meaning "divine" or "sacred." The name was particularly prevalent among the Britons and Gaels, who inhabited modern-day Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, and Ireland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Devean can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle compiled in the 15th century. It mentions a Devean mac Conchobair, a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Connacht during the 12th century. The name also appears in several ancient Welsh and Cornish genealogies, suggesting its widespread usage among the Celtic nobility and ruling classes.
In the 6th century, a renowned Welsh bard named Devean ap Gwrgi was celebrated for his poetic works, which captured the spirit of his time and preserved the oral traditions of the Welsh people. His compositions were widely recited and passed down through generations, contributing to the enduring legacy of the name.
During the Middle Ages, the name Devean gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in areas with significant Celtic influence. One notable figure was Devean of Pembroke, a 12th-century Norman nobleman and military commander who played a crucial role in the Norman conquest of Wales.
In the realm of literature, Devean ap Rhys, a 14th-century Welsh poet, left an indelible mark with his poignant works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. His poems are still studied and appreciated by scholars of medieval Welsh literature.
As the centuries passed, the name Devean continued to resonate across various cultures and societies. In the 17th century, Devean O'Doherty was a renowned Irish scholar and historian who made significant contributions to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Ireland through his writings and teachings.
While these are just a few examples, the name Devean has undoubtedly carried a rich legacy throughout history, reflecting the diverse influences and cultural traditions of the Celtic peoples and their descendants.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Devean
People
Devean + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Devean 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
Devean: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Devean?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 196 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Devean 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 1,748,747 US residents.
Is Devean a common name?
We classify Devean as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 199 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Devean most popular?
The single biggest year for Devean was 2004, when 59 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Devean is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Devean a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Devean 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.