Devoe
A name stemming from the French surname Deveau or the French place name Devaux.
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Devoe. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Devoe today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Devoe births was 1990 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Devoe. 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 Devoe. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
1990
9 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1990 SSA rank
#5,487
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Devoe: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Devoe from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 23 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Devoe remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Devoe 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 Devoe 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 Devoe
The name Devoe has its origins in the Old French language and is derived from the word "devot," which means "devout" or "pious." The name first emerged in the 12th century during the Medieval period and was initially used as a descriptive surname for individuals who were deeply religious or devoted to their faith.
In the early centuries of its use, the name Devoe was primarily found in regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. Over time, it spread to other parts of Europe as people migrated and settled in different areas. The spelling variations of the name included Devoue, Devoe, and Devoye.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Devoe can be found in the 13th-century French manuscript "Chroniques de St. Denis," where a man named Jean Devoe is mentioned as a prominent figure in the local community. However, there is no definitive evidence of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures from that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Devoe. One of the earliest examples is Jean Devoe (c. 1290-1355), a French architect and master builder who was responsible for the construction of several churches and cathedrals in Paris during the Gothic period.
Another prominent figure was Étienne Devoe (1532-1592), a French philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on the reconciliation of religious beliefs with scientific knowledge. His works were influential during the Renaissance and contributed to the intellectual discourse of the time.
In the 18th century, Jacques Devoe (1712-1789) was a French merchant and explorer who traveled to the Americas and documented his experiences in a series of journals. His writings provided valuable insights into the cultures and customs of the indigenous populations he encountered.
During the 19th century, Marie Devoe (1837-1918) was a French novelist and playwright known for her works that explored themes of love, betrayal, and societal norms. Her plays were widely performed in Paris and garnered critical acclaim.
In more recent times, Pierre Devoe (1923-2002) was a French artist and sculptor whose abstract works were exhibited in galleries across Europe and gained international recognition for their innovative use of materials and techniques.
It's important to note that while these are some notable individuals who bore the name Devoe, the name has been used by many others throughout history, both in France and in other parts of the world where French influence has been present.
People
Devoe + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Devoe 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
Devoe: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Devoe?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Devoe 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 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Devoe a common name?
We classify Devoe as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 59 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Devoe most popular?
The single biggest year for Devoe was 1990, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Devoe is about 51 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Devoe a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Devoe 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.