Dean

♀ Girl

Pronounced DEEN /ˈdiːn/High

Meaning: From the English surname Dean, either 'dweller in the valley' (Old English denu) or an official title, 'dean' (of a church or college). It is overwhelmingly a boy's name (James Dean); used here for a girl, we flag the cross-sex lean clearly.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp one-beat name: Dean means 'valley' or a church/academic dean (said 'DEEN'). Overwhelmingly a boy's name — we note the lean plainly.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom the English surname Dean, either 'dweller in the valley' (Old English denu) or an official title, 'dean' (of a church or college). It is overwhelmingly a boy's name (James Dean); used here for a girl, we flag the cross-sex lean clearly.

U.S. rank (2024)#15817 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1932

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,908

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dean comes from the English surname, either 'valley' (Old English denu) or the office of 'dean.' It is overwhelmingly a boy's name, which we flag clearly — very rare for girls (said 'DEEN').

For girls it appears very rarely, against far heavier boys' use. Rare, crisp, and one-beat.

Did you know? Dean is English for 'dweller in the valley' or the title 'dean'; famous via James Dean, it reads overwhelmingly as a boy's name, which we flag plainly (said 'DEEN').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Dean — English surname 'valley'/'dean'; boy-leaning

Variations

DeaneDeenDene

Nicknames

DeeDeenie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Explore names like Dean

By themeenglish surname cross-sex unisex-lean-boy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dean mean?

Dean is English for 'valley' or the title 'dean'; it is overwhelmingly a boy's name.

How do you pronounce Dean?

It's said DEEN /ˈdiːn/ — one syllable.

Is Dean a boy or girl name?

Dean is used for both, but overwhelmingly for boys — we note the lean plainly.

How popular is Dean?

Dean is very rare for girls in the U.S. and far more common for boys.