DEWI (1) m WelshFrom
Dewydd, an old Welsh form of
DAVID. Saint Dewi, the patron saint of Wales, was a 6th-century Welsh bishop.
DEXTER m EnglishFrom an occupational surname meaning
"one who dyes" in Old English. It also coincides with the Latin word
dexter meaning
"right-handed, skilled".
DIADUMENIAN m HistoryFrom the Roman cognomen
Diadumenianus, which was derived from the Greek name
DIADUMENUS. This was the name of a Roman Emperor who reigned briefly in the 3rd century.
DIARMAID m Irish, Irish MythologyPerhaps means
"without envy" in Irish. In Irish mythology this was the name of a warrior who became the lover of
Gráinne. It was also the name of several ancient Irish kings.
DICK (1) m EnglishMedieval diminutive of
RICHARD. The change in the initial consonant is said to have been caused by the way the trilled Norman
R was pronounced by the English.
DIEDE m & f DutchShort form of
DIEDERIK and other names beginning with the same element, originally from Germanic
theud meaning "people".
DIEGO m SpanishPossibly a shortened form of
SANTIAGO. In medieval records
Diego was Latinized as
Didacus, and it has been suggested that it in fact derives from Greek
διδαχη (didache) meaning
"teaching". Saint Didacus (or Diego) was a 15th-century Franciscan brother based in Alcalá, Spain. Other famous bearers of this name include Mexican muralist Diego Rivera (1886-1957) and Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona (1960-).
DIETER m GermanMeans
"warrior of the people", derived from the Germanic elements
theud "people" and
hari "army".
DIEUWE m FrisianFrisian short form of Germanic names beginning with the element
diet, originally
theud meaning "people".
DIGBY m English (Rare)From a surname that was derived from the name of an English town, itself derived from a combination of Old English
dic "dyke, ditch" and Old Norse
byr "farm, town".
DIGGORY m English (Rare)Probably an Anglicized form of
Degaré. Sir Degaré was the subject of a medieval poem set in Brittany. The name may mean "lost one" from French
égaré.
DIKLAH m & f Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical HebrewPossibly means
"palm grove" in Hebrew or Aramaic. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of
Joktan. In modern times it is also used as a feminine name.
DILBERT m Popular CultureMeaning unknown. The second element is probably intended to be from Germanic
beraht "bright". This is the title character in a comic strip by Scott Adams.
DILIPA m HinduismMeans
"protector of Delhi" from Sanskrit
दिल्ली (see
DELHI) combined with
प (pa) meaning "protecting". This is the name of several kings in Hindu texts.
DILLON m EnglishVariant of
DYLAN based on the spelling of the surname
Dillon, which has an unrelated origin.
DILWYN m WelshMeans
"genuine and white" from the Welsh element
dilys "genuine" combined with
gwyn "white, fair, blessed".
DINESH m Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, NepaliModern form of
DINESHA.
DINESHA m HinduismMeans
"day lord" from Sanskrit
दिन (dina) meaning "day" and
ईश (isha) meaning "lord". In Hindu texts this is used as a name of the sun.
DIOCLETIAN m HistoryFrom the Roman cognomen
Diocletianus, a derivative of
DIOKLES. This was the name of a Roman emperor of the 3rd and 4th centuries. He is remembered for persecuting Christians, but he also reformed and stabilized the crumbling Empire.
DIOGO m PortuguesePortuguese form of
DIEGO. This name was borne by the 15th-century Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão.
DIOMEDES m Greek MythologyDerived from Greek
Διος (Dios) meaning "of
ZEUS" and
μηδομαι (medomai) meaning "to think, to plan". In Greek legend Diomedes was one of the greatest heroes who fought against the Trojans. With
Odysseus he entered Troy and stole the Palladium. After the Trojan War he founded the cities of Brindisi and Arpi in Italy.
DION m Ancient Greek, EnglishShort form of
DIONYSIOS and other Greek names beginning with the Greek element
Διος (Dios) meaning "of
ZEUS". This was the name of a 4th-century BC tyrant of Syracuse. It has been used as an American given name since the middle of the 20th century.
DIONYSIOS m Greek, Ancient GreekGreek personal name derived from the name of the Greek god
DIONYSOS. Famous bearers include two early tyrants of Syracuse and a 1st-century BC Greek rhetorician.
DIONYSOS m Greek MythologyFrom Greek
Διος (Dios) meaning "of
ZEUS" combined with
NYSA, the name of the region where young Dionysos was said to have been raised. In Greek mythology Dionysos was the god of wine, revelry, fertility and dance. He was the son of
Zeus and
Semele.
DIPAK m Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, NepaliModern form of
DIPAKA.
DIPAKA m HinduismMeans
"inflaming, exciting" in Sanskrit. This is another name of
Kama, the Hindu god of love.
DIRK m Dutch, German, EnglishShort form of
DIEDERIK. The name was popularized in the English-speaking world by actor Dirk Bogarde (1921-1999), who had some Dutch ancestry. This is also the Scots word for a type of dagger.
DIYAR m & f KurdishMeans
"apparent, visible, clear" in Kurdish.
DMITRIY m RussianRussian form of
DEMETRIUS. Dmitriy Mendeleev (1834-1907) was the Russian chemist who devised the periodic table.
DOMENICO m ItalianItalian form of
DOMINIC. Domenico Veneziano was a Renaissance painter who lived in Florence.
DOMINIC m EnglishFrom the Late Latin name
Dominicus meaning
"of the Lord". This name was traditionally given to a child born on Sunday. Several saints have borne this name, including the 13th-century founder of the Dominican order of friars. It was in this saint's honour that the name was first used in England, starting around the 13th century. It is primarily used by Catholics.
DOMITIAN m HistoryFrom the Roman cognomen
Domitianus, itself derived from the family name
DOMITIUS. This was the name of a 1st-century Roman emperor, Titus Flavius Domitianus.
DOMITIUS m Ancient RomanRoman family name that was probably derived from Latin
domitus meaning
"having been tamed".
DOMNIUS m Late RomanDerived from Late Latin
domnus, Latin
dominus meaning
"lord, master". Saint Domnius was a bishop of Split in Croatia who was martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian in the early 4th century.
DONALD m Scottish, EnglishFrom the Gaelic name
Domhnall meaning
"ruler of the world", composed of the old Celtic elements
dumno "world" and
val "rule". This was the name of two 9th-century kings of the Scots and Picts. It has traditionally been very popular in Scotland, and during the 20th century it became common in the rest of the English-speaking world. This is the name of one of Walt Disney's most popular cartoon characters, Donald Duck. It was also borne by Australian cricket player Donald Bradman (1908-2001).
DONATELLO m ItalianDiminutive of
DONATO. The Renaissance sculptor Donato di Niccolo di Bette Bardi was better known as Donatello.
DONATO m Italian, Spanish, PortugueseFrom the Late Latin name
Donatus meaning
"given". Several early saints had this name. The name was also borne by two Renaissance masters: the sculptor Donato di Niccolo di Bette Bardi (also known as Donatello), and the architect Donato Bramante.
DONG m ChineseFrom Chinese
东 (dōng) meaning "east",
栋 (dòng) meaning "pillar, beam", or other characters that are pronounced similarly.
DONG-GEUN m KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
東 (dong) meaning "east" and
根 (geun) meaning "root, foundation", as well as other hanja character combinations.
DONNDUBHÁN m Ancient IrishComposed of the Irish element
donn "brown" combined with
dubh "dark" and a diminutive suffix.
DOR m & f HebrewMeans
"generation" in Hebrew.
DORAN m IrishFrom an Irish surname that was derived from
Ó Deoráin meaning
"descendant of Deoradhán". The name
Deoradhán means "exile, wanderer" in Gaelic.
DORIAN m English, FrenchThe name was first used by Oscar Wilde in his novel
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), which tells the story of a man whose portrait ages while he stays young. Wilde may have taken it from the name of the ancient Greek tribe the Dorians, or from the surname
DORAN.
DOUGAL m Scottish, IrishAnglicized form of the Gaelic name
Dubhghall, which meant
"dark stranger" from
dubh "dark" and
gall "stranger".
DOUGLAS m Scottish, EnglishAnglicized form of the Scottish surname
Dubhghlas, meaning
"dark river" from Gaelic
dubh "dark" and
glais "water, river" (an archaic word related to
glas "grey, green"). Douglas was originally a place name (for example, a tributary of the River Clyde), which then became a Scottish clan name borne by a powerful line of earls. It has been used as a given name since the 16th century.
DOYLE m IrishFrom an Irish surname that was derived from
Ó Dubhghaill meaning
"descendant of Dubhghall" (see
DOUGAL). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories.
DO-YUN m KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
道 (do) meaning "path, road, way" and
允 (yun) meaning "allow, consent", as well as other hanja character combinations.
DRACO m Ancient Greek (Latinized)From the Greek name
Δρακων (Drakon), which meant
"dragon, serpent". This was the name of a 7th-century BC Athenian legislator. This is also the name of a constellation in the northern sky.
DRAGOȘ m RomanianOriginally a short form of Slavic names beginning with the element
dragu meaning
"precious", such as
DRAGOMIR. This was the name of a 14th-century ruler of Moldavia.
DRAKE m EnglishFrom an English surname derived from the Old Norse byname
Draki or the Old English byname
Draca both meaning "dragon", both via Latin from Greek
δρακων (drakon) meaning "dragon, serpent". This name coincides with the unrelated English word
drake meaning "male duck".
DRISCOLL m English (Rare), IrishFrom an Irish surname that was an Anglicized form of
Ó Eidirsceóil meaning
"descendant of the messenger".
DROGO m English (Archaic)Norman name, possibly derived from Gothic
dragen meaning
"to carry" or Saxon
drog meaning
"ghost". Alternatively, it could be from the Slavic element
dragu meaning
"precious, dear". The Normans introduced this name to England.
DROR m HebrewMeans
"freedom" or
"sparrow" in Hebrew.
DRUMMOND m English (Rare)From a Scottish surname that was derived from various place names, themselves derived from Gaelic
druim meaning
"ridge".
DRUPADA m HinduismMeans
"wooden pillar" or
"firm footed" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the
Mahabharata this is the name of a king of Panchala, the father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna.
DRUST m Ancient CelticPictish name probably derived from Celtic
drest meaning
"riot" or
"tumult". This name was borne by several kings of the Picts, including their last king Drust X, who ruled in the 9th century.
DRUSUS m Ancient RomanRoman family name, also sometimes used as a praenomen, or given name, by the Claudia family. Apparently the name was first assumed by a Roman warrior who killed a Gallic chieftain named Drausus in single combat.
Drausus possibly derives from a Celtic element meaning
"strong".
DUANE m English, IrishFrom an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname
Ó Dubhán meaning
"descendant of DUBHÁN".
DUARTE m PortuguesePortuguese form of
EDWARD. This name was borne by a 15th-century king of Portugal, who was named after his maternal ancestor Edward III of England.
DUBHÁN m IrishIrish name derived from
dubh "dark, black" combined with a diminutive suffix.
DUBHSHLÁINE m Ancient IrishOld Irish name derived from
dubh "dark, black" and either
slán "defiance" or
Sláine, the Irish name of the River Slaney.
DUBHTHACH m Ancient IrishOld Irish name derived from
dubh "dark, black" in combination with a second element of unknown meaning.
DUDLEY m EnglishFrom a surname that was originally from a place name meaning
"Dudda's clearing" in Old English. The surname was borne by a British noble family.
DUILIO m Italian, SpanishFrom the Roman name
Duilius, which is possibly derived from Latin
duellum "war". This was the name of a Roman consul who defeated the Carthaginians in a naval battle.
DUKE m EnglishFrom the noble title
duke, which was originally derived from Latin
dux "leader".
DUKVAKHA m ChechenMeans
"to live long", derived from Nakh
duqa "many" and
vakha "to live".
DUMUZI m Sumerian MythologyFrom Sumerian
𒌉 (dumu) meaning "son, child" and
𒍣 (zid) meaning "true, loyal". This was the name of a Sumerian god of shepherds and vegetation, the husband of
Inanna. He was said to spend half of each year in the underworld, resulting in the yearly cycle of seasons. He was known to the Semitic peoples of Mesopotamia as
Tammuz.
DUNCAN m Scottish, EnglishAnglicized form of the Gaelic name
Donnchadh, derived from Gaelic
donn "brown" and
cath "battle". This was the name of two kings of Scotland, including the one who was featured in Shakespeare's play
Macbeth (1606).
DUNSTAN m English (Rare), Anglo-SaxonFrom the Old English elements
dunn "dark" and
stan "stone". This name was borne by a 10th-century saint, the archbishop of Canterbury. It was occasionally used in the Middle Ages, though it died out after the 16th century. It was revived by the Tractarian movement in the 19th century.
DURANTE m ItalianItalian form of the Late Latin name
Durans, which meant
"enduring".
DURI f & m KoreanMeans
"two" in Korean (Gyeongsang dialect).
DURWARD m EnglishFrom an occupational surname meaning
"door guard" in Middle English.
DUSHYANTA m HinduismPossibly means
"destroyer of evil" in Sanskrit. In Hindu legend this is the name of a king who is the husband of
Shakuntala and the father of
Bharata.
DUSTIN m EnglishFrom an English surname that was derived from the Old Norse given name
Þórsteinn (see
TORSTEN). The name was popularized by the actor Dustin Hoffman (1937-), who was apparently named after the earlier silent movie star Dustin Farnum (1874-1929).
DUSTY m & f EnglishFrom a nickname originally given to people perceived as being dusty. It is also used a diminutive of
DUSTIN. A famous bearer was British singer Dusty Springfield (1939-1999), who acquired her nickname as a child.
DUTCH m EnglishFrom a nickname given to Americans of German descent. It is related to
deutsch, the German word for "German".
DUUK m Dutch (Modern)Probably a Dutch form of the English word
duke, which was originally derived from Latin
dux "leader". The equivalent Dutch word is
hertog.
DWI m & f IndonesianMeans
"two, second" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit
द्वि (dvi).
DWIGHT m EnglishFrom an English surname that was derived from the medieval feminine name
Diot, a diminutive of
Dionysia, the feminine form of
DIONYSIUS. In America it was sometimes given in honour of Yale president Timothy Dwight (1752-1817). A famous bearer was the American president Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969).