Deylan
Of Gaelic origin, signifying "descendant of the blind one" or "little blind one".
Name Census estimates that about 142 living Americans carry the first name Deylan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Deylan today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deylan births was 2023 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deylan. 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
142
~ 1 in 2,413,763 Americans
Peak year
2023
23 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,177
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Deylan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deylan from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 58 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
Deylan 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 Deylan 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 Deylan
The name Deylan has its origins rooted in ancient Celtic culture, tracing back to the early medieval period in the British Isles. It is thought to be derived from the Welsh word "deylan," which translates to "bright" or "shining." This linguistic association suggests the name may have been bestowed upon individuals with a radiant or charismatic presence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deylan can be found in the Welsh Triads, a collection of medieval literature dating back to the 13th century. In these texts, Deylan is mentioned as the name of a renowned warrior from the region of Gwynedd, celebrated for his bravery and prowess in battle.
Throughout the centuries, the name Deylan has been carried by several notable figures. In the 15th century, Deylan ap Gruffydd was a prominent Welsh poet and bard, renowned for his intricate and eloquent compositions. His works played a significant role in preserving the Welsh language and cultural traditions during a time of turmoil.
Another historical figure bearing the name Deylan was Deylan Jones, a 17th-century English explorer and navigator. He was part of an expedition that charted uncharted territories in the South Pacific, contributing to the expansion of geographical knowledge during the Age of Exploration.
In the realm of literature, Deylan Thomas (1914-1953) stands out as one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Born in Swansea, Wales, his works, such as "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" and "Under Milk Wood," have left an indelible mark on the literary landscape, earning him international acclaim.
Deylan Murphy (1943-2016) was an Irish actor and writer who gained recognition for his roles in several acclaimed films, including "The Commitments" and "Breakfast on Pluto." His versatile performances and contributions to the arts cemented his status as a beloved figure in Irish culture.
While the name Deylan has evolved over time and across different regions, its Celtic roots and associations with brightness and radiance have remained a consistent thread throughout its history. This name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, each leaving their unique mark on their respective fields and eras.
People
Deylan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deylan 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
Deylan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deylan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 142 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deylan 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 2,413,763 US residents.
Is Deylan a common name?
We classify Deylan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 143 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deylan most popular?
The single biggest year for Deylan was 2023, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deylan is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Deylan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Deylan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deylan 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.
Is Deylan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Deylan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Deylan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Deylan as a first name?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Deylan, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.