Devlin first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Devlin has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Devlin

A variant of Dyflin, the Irish name for Dublin.

Popularity of Devlin by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Devlin is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Devlin being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 13 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Devlin.

Year	Male Count	Female Count
2024	13	0
2023	22	5
2022	20	0
2021	27	9
2020	24	0
2019	26	7
2018	44	5
2017	29	5
2016	45	0
2015	59	6
2014	71	7
2013	62	6
2012	82	6
2011	77	0
2010	90	5
2009	116	0
2008	108	0
2007	139	6
2006	128	8
2005	119	0
2004	132	5
2003	131	0
2002	102	0
2001	94	10
2000	101	0
1999	85	5
1998	95	10
1997	89	8
1996	73	6
1995	71	10
1994	49	0
1993	70	8
1992	50	6
1991	43	7
1990	44	6
1989	46	0
1988	25	0
1987	23	5
1986	35	8
1985	24	0
1984	35	0
1983	52	0
1982	24	6
1981	23	0
1980	13	0
1979	20	0
1978	20	5
1977	21	5
1976	14	0
1975	36	0

The history of the first name Devlin

The name Devlin is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Gaelic words "dubh" meaning black and "linn" meaning pool or lake, giving it the meaning "black pool" or "dark lake."

This name was initially used as a surname in Ireland, particularly in counties such as Westmeath and Longford. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name referring to a person who lived near a dark or murky body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Devlin can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it appears as a surname in the 13th century. However, its use as a given name did not become common until several centuries later.

In the 16th century, during the reign of Henry VIII, a notable figure named Devlin O'Rourke was a prominent clan chief in County Leitrim. He played a role in the Irish resistance against English rule during that period.

Another historical figure bearing the name Devlin was a 17th-century Irish Catholic priest and historian, Devlin O'Hartigan. He wrote extensively on the history of Ireland and the lives of Irish saints.

During the 19th century, a prominent Irish politician named Joseph Devlin was a leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party and a staunch advocate for Irish home rule. He was born in 1872 and played a significant role in the Irish nationalist movement.

In the realm of literature, the name Devlin is associated with the Irish playwright and novelist, Bernard Devlin. He was born in 1910 and is best known for his works exploring the tensions between Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland.

Another notable individual with the name Devlin was the American labor leader and activist, Dennis Devlin. Born in 1908, he played a crucial role in the labor movement and the fight for workers' rights in the United States.

While the name Devlin has Irish roots, it has gained popularity as a given name in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries, due to its unique and distinctive sound.

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 Devlin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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