Dev

Dev - A very unique male name

Dev appeared on the charts for the first time in 1988 on position #2727. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Dev and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Dev? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Dev. The baby boy name Dev was given to 96 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1313 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 15,274 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Dev peaked in popularity 17 years ago in 2009 on position 1161.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Dev, 1-5?

Dev is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Dev is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #528 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,902.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Dev is where you live.

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Dev origin and meaning

Sanskrit

'God, divine' — from Sanskrit deva, a god or divine being

Dev is a long-established Indian name from Sanskrit deva, and in English it also appears as a short form of names like Devin. Its data history begins in 1988, reflecting its use in Indian-American families. It is short, cross-cultural and now rising.

Attested etymology

Dev is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Dev, pop culture references for the name Dev and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Dev

We've found the following names that sound similar to Dev, sorted by popularity.

Dave / Dov / Davi / Davey / Davie / Davy / Deep / Debbie / Duff / Dovi /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Dev

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Dev a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Dev?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

DEV · /dɛv/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Deva — The fuller Sanskrit word, used as a separate name

Famous bearers

• Dev Patel — Actor, star of Slumdog Millionaire and Lion (b. 1990) Contemporary

Style

InternationalShort form

Why parents choose it

Parents like Dev for its brevity and ease — one syllable that travels well and carries a real meaning in Sanskrit.

Worth knowing

• Can be mistaken for a nickname for Devin or Devonte and may be 'completed' by others.
• Also the everyday short word for a software developer in tech workplaces.