Boy Names that Start with D (100+ Cool Ideas for 2024) (2024)

AHEAD: The ultimate list of D names for boys—plus their meanings and popularity.

If you’re looking for a cool boys’ name starting with the letter D, you’re in the right place!

Below, I’ve rounded up every single D name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.

For each name, you’ll find its meaning and current popularity—which will hopefully help you narrow down your list of favorites.

As you’ll see, there are plenty of great choices. Not only are there 60 “D” names ranking in the top 1000, but there are a whole bunch of others that are more rare (without being too out there).

Feel free to use the Table of Contents to jump to a specific style, or keep on scrolling and view all of these cool boys’ names starting with the letter D.

Related: Girl Names Beginning with D

POPULAR “D” NAMES
SHORT “D” NAMES
FAMILIAR “D” NAMES
GENDER NEUTRAL “D” NAMES
UNIQUE “D” NAMES
RARE “D” NAMES
PAST THEIR PRIME

Popular boy names that start with “D”

Kicking off our list of boys’ names beginning with D with monikers that are popular in the United States right now. All of these are in the top 500.

Damian or Damien

Name meaning: To tame.
Popularity: Damian ranks #110 and Damien is #277.

Damon

Name meaning: To tame.
Popularity: #426

Dante

Name meaning: Italian version of Durant, meaning enduring.
Popularity: #301

Dawson

Name meaning: Son of David.
Popularity: #197

Dax

Name meaning: A town in southwestern France.
Popularity: #475

Daxton

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: #289

Dean

Name meaning: Several meanings including monk, valley, law, or justice.
Popularity: #176

Declan

Name meaning: Man of prayer.
Popularity: #102

Desmond

Name meaning: From South Munster, Ireland.
Popularity: #365

Diego

Name meaning: One who takes the place of another. Spanish version of James.
Popularity: #125

Donovan

Name meaning: Brown-haired man.
Popularity: #374

If you like these popular boy names that start with D you’ll also like this list of two-syllable names.

Short “D” names

These baby boy names starting with D are just 3 to 5 letters long!

Dane

Name meaning: God is my judge. Person from Denmark.
Popularity: #835

Dash

Name meaning: To move quickly.
Popularity: #802

Dex

Name meaning: Short for Dexter, meaning skillful or right-handed.
Popularity: This one-syllable boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Dodge

Name meaning: Short for Rodger, meaning famous warrior.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Draco

Name meaning: A constellation meaning ‘dragon’.
Popularity: This boys’ outer space name isn’t ranking.

Drago

Name meaning: Precious or dear one.
Popularity: This D name isn’t ranking.

Drake

Name meaning: Dragon. Also a male duck.
Popularity: #533

Duke

Name meaning: Leader. English nobility.
Popularity: #637

Dutch

Name meaning: From the Netherlands.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

If you like these mini boy names that start with D you’ll also like this list of short names.

Familiar “D” names

These D names for boys have been around for a while and have a timeless feel.

Daniel or Danny

Name meaning: God is my judge.
Popularity: Daniel ranks #14 and Danny is #567.

David

Name meaning: Beloved.
Popularity: #28

Davis

Name meaning: Beloved.
Popularity: #554

Dennis

Name meaning: Follower of the Greek god, Dionysius.
Popularity: #646

Derek or Derrick

Name meaning: From Theodoric, meaning ruler of the people.
Popularity: Derek ranks #311 and Derrick is #552. Derick last ranked in 2012. Deric and Derrek aren’t ranking.

Dominic or Dominick or Dominik

Name meaning: Belonging to God.
Popularity: Dominic ranks #88, Dominick is #446, and Dominik is #941.

Douglas

Name meaning: Dark stream. A Douglas fir is a type of pine tree.
Popularity: #735

Dustin

Name meaning: Thor’s stone.
Popularity: #656

If you like these familiar boy names that start with D you might also like this list of names for rainbow babies.

Gender neutral “D” names

All of these names starting with D would work for a boy or a girl!

Dakota

Name meaning: Friend or ally. North and South Dakota are midwestern states.
Popularity: This D name ranks #348 for boys and #261 for girls.

Dale

Name meaning: Valley.
Popularity: This name is isn’t ranking for either gender.

Dallas

Name meaning: Skilled. A city in northern Texas.
Popularity: This southern name ranks #271 for boys and #630 for girls.

Dalton

Name meaning: Settlement in the valley.
Popularity: This name ranks #467 for boys and isn’t ranking for girls.

Darcy

Name meaning: Dark one.
Popularity: This name isn’t ranking for either gender.

Denver

Name meaning: Place in Colorado meaning green valley.
Popularity: This name ranks #527 for boys and #894 for girls.

Devin or Devon

Name meaning: Fawn. Poet. Divine. County in South West England.
Popularity: Devin ranks #384 and Devon is #672. Devon hasn’t ranked for girls since 2005.

Drew

Name meaning: Strong and manly.
Popularity: This name ranks #530 for boys and #944 for girls.

Dylan or Dillon or Dilan

Name meaning: Son of the sea.
Popularity: Dylan ranks #43, Dillon ranks #667, and Dilan is #848. Dylan ranks #496 for girls.

If you like these gender neutral names that start with D you’ll also like this list of nonbinary names and these hippie names.

Unique “D” names

These boys’ names starting with D are both cool and unusual. They’re perfect if you want something a little edgy but not too far out there.

Dallin or Dallen

Name meaning: From the valley.
Popularity: Dallin last ranked in 2005. Dallen isn’t ranking.

Darian or Darien or Darion

Name meaning: Posessing goodness. Rich and kingly.
Popularity: Darian ranks #832. Darien last ranked in 2014 and Darion last ranked in 2008.

Darren

Name meaning: Little great one.
Popularity: #723

Darrow

Name meaning: Spear.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Darwin

Name meaning: Dear friend. (Charles Darwin came up with theory of evolution by natural selection).
Popularity: #901

Dashiell or Dashell or Dashel

Name meaning: Meaning unknown.
Popularity: None of these spellings are ranking.

Daxon or Daxson

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Daxter

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Dayton

Name meaning: A city in western Ohio.
Popularity: #973

Deacon

Name meaning: Messenger. Helper. A member of the Christian ministry.
Popularity: #515

Denton

Name meaning: Village in a valley.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Diesel or Diezel

Name meaning: Fuel.
Popularity: Neither spelling of this boys’ name is ranking.

Dixon

Name meaning: Son of Richard.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Dorian

Name meaning: Several possible meanings: From Dorus, a legendary Greek hero. From Doris, a district of Ancient Greece. Child of the sea.
Popularity: #511

Draper

Name meaning: A person who sells cloth.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Dublin

Name meaning: The capital of Ireland.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Duncan

Name meaning: Dark warrior.
Popularity: #978

If you like these unique boy names that start with D you may also like this list of edgy names.

Rare “D” names

For a D boys’ name that’s off the beaten path, consider one of these rare choices.

Dakari

Name meaning: Happiness.
Popularity: #665

Damari

Name meaning: Might mean eternal or gentle.
Popularity: #882

Damir

Name meaning: Give peace or iron.
Popularity: #948

Dangelo or Deangelo

Name meaning: From the angel.
Popularity: Dangelo ranks #949 and Deangelo last ranked in 2018.

Dariel

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: #608

Dario

Name meaning: Italian version of Darius, meaning possessing goodness or rich and kingly.
Popularity: #822

Darius

Name meaning: Possessing goodness. Rich and kingly.
Popularity: #591

Darnell

Name meaning: Hidden spot.
Popularity: This name last ranked in 2012.

Darrell or Darryl

Name meaning: Dear one or beloved.
Popularity: Darrell last ranked in 2017 and Darryl last ranked in 2012.

Davion or Davian

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: Davion ranks #943 and Davian is #981.

Dayden

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Daymond or Damond

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: Neither spelling of this name is ranking.

Deandre

Name meaning: Invented name.
Popularity: #766

Decker

Name meaning: Roofer.
Popularity: This German boys’ name hasn’t ranked since 2018.

Demetrius

Name meaning: Devoted to the Greek goddess Demeter.
Popularity: #856

Denzel

Name meaning: Might mean tall fortress.
Popularity: This name last ranked in 2013.

Dewey

Name meaning: Beloved.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Diaz

Name meaning: Days.
Popularity: This D name isn’t ranking.

Dion

Name meaning: A king in Greek mythology.
Popularity: #951

Dimitri

Name meaning: Devoted to the Greek goddess Demeter.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Domenico

Name meaning: Of the Lord.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Domingo

Name meaning: Born on Sunday.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Donatello

Name meaning: To give.
Popularity: This D name isn’t ranking.

Donato

Name meaning: God given.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Donnell

Name meaning: Great chief.
Popularity: This name hasn’t ranked since 2001.

Donnie

Name meaning: Great chief.
Popularity: This name last ranked in 2000.

Dorado

Name meaning: A constellation meaning ‘Swordfish’. Also means golden.
Popularity: This boys’ space name isn’t ranking.

Doyle

Name meaning: Dark-haired stranger.
Popularity: This Irish boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Dresden

Name meaning: People of the forest. One of the largest cities in Germany.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Duran

Name meaning: Enduring.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Durant

Name meaning: Enduring.
Popularity: This French boys’ name isn’t ranking.

If you like these rare boy names that start with D you may also like this list of three-syllable names.

“D” names that are past their prime

IMHO, even though they’re ranking in the top 1000, the following names have seen better days.

Dexter

Name meaning: Skillful. Right-handed. (This is one of my all-time favorite shows… but the name will forever be associated with the main character who is a serial killer).
Popularity: #560

Dior

Name meaning: Golden. (This name is inextricably linked to the luxury brand).
Popularity: This name ranks #868 for boys and #499 for girls.

Donald

Name meaning: World ruler. (This name will never be the same for obvious reasons).
Popularity: #610

Have you found the perfect name?

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Final thoughts on “D” names for boys

Hopefully, you’ve found a few lead contenders on this list, or at least come away with some baby name inspiration.

Whether you prefer a name that’s popular, short, familiar, gender neutral, unique, or rare, all of these D boy names are amazing choices.

Congratulations and good luck choosing the perfect name for your son!