Devonn
A masculine name of Gaelic origin derived from "dubh" meaning "dark-haired".
Name Census estimates that about 443 living Americans carry the first name Devonn. It is a predominantly male name (94.9% of registrations). The average person named Devonn today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Devonn births was 1992 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Devonn. 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
443
~ 1 in 773,712 Americans
Peak year
1992
32 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2020 SSA rank
#8,927
Tracked since 1973
Gender
Gender distribution for Devonn
Devonn leans heavily male at 94.9% of total registrations, but 23 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Devonn as a male name
- Ranked #8,927 in 2020
- 8 male births in 2020
- Peak: 1992 (27 births)
Devonn as a female name
- Ranked #12,257 in 1996
- 6 female births in 1996
- Peak: 1990 (6 births)
Popularity
Devonn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Devonn from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 177 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Devonn 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 Devonn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Devonns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Devonn
The name Devonn has its origins rooted in the Celtic languages spoken in ancient Britain and parts of northwestern Europe. It is derived from the Welsh word "defn," which means "poet" or "bard." This connection to the bardic tradition suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were revered for their storytelling abilities or their skill with language.
In the early medieval period, the name was primarily found in regions with strong Celtic cultural influences, such as Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 6th century, when a Welsh bard named Devonn ap Gwrtheyrn was renowned for his lyrical compositions and his mastery of the ancient bardic traditions.
As the centuries passed, the name Devonn remained prevalent in Celtic communities, and its spelling variations, such as Devonne and Devonney, emerged. In the 11th century, a renowned Welsh scholar and historian named Devonn ap Caradog documented the exploits of the legendary King Arthur and his knights, contributing to the enduring legacy of Arthurian legends.
During the Renaissance period, the name gained popularity among the educated elite, who appreciated its literary connotations. One notable figure from this era was Devonn Pryse, a 16th-century Welsh scholar and translator who played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating Welsh literature and poetry.
In the 19th century, the name Devonn crossed the Atlantic and found its way to the United States. Devonn Whittlesey, born in 1809, was a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as the 12th Governor of Ohio from 1836 to 1838.
Another noteworthy individual bearing the name Devonn was Devonn Eyre, a British explorer and adventurer born in 1872. He embarked on numerous expeditions to remote regions of Africa and Asia, documenting his travels and contributing to the understanding of diverse cultures and landscapes.
Throughout history, the name Devonn has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to literature, scholarship, and exploration. Its Celtic roots and connection to the bardic tradition have imbued it with a sense of creativity, eloquence, and a love for storytelling that has endured across centuries and cultures.
People
Devonn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Devonn 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
Devonn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Devonn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 443 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Devonn 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 773,712 US residents.
Is Devonn a common name?
We classify Devonn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 455 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Devonn most popular?
The single biggest year for Devonn was 1992, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Devonn is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Devonn a male name?
Yes, 94.9% of people registered as Devonn 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.