English Names that Start With D

Dodo is one of the few names of the cute repeating-sounds genre that is not alas so cute, being a slang word for someone brainless as well as the name of the infamous extinct bird. Dot, Dottie, Dory, or Thea are all preferable.

Dodo

Dune is a haunting and evocative sandy-beach name, which also has sci-fi connections. Dune is a science fiction franchise that was launched by Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. Some interesting Dune character names include Alia, Leto, Siona, Bellonda,and Tamalane.
 An alternate spelling is Doon, created by photographer Diane Arbus for her daughter; it came to her as she walked along the beach.

Dune

Dylana

Digby is a place-name in Lincolnshire turned surname turned quirky first name that is starting to get some attention. In fact, it ranked in the UK Top 1000 in a recent year where it fits in with the likes of Barnaby, Rupert, and Wilbur. 
 
The name has been used for characters in Joanna Quinn's novel, The Whale Bone Theatre, in the TV soap, Holby City and the game Animal Crossing.
 
A similar name is Diggory, found in both Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit, Hardy's Return of the Native, and C.S Lewis's Narnia novels (spelled Digory). They both have a clunky, old-man vibe, but also share sounds with the modern Briggs and Riggs.

Digby

Ancient nickname that sounds cuter than its modern alternatives -- but be aware that in the days of the horse and buggy, it was most often used for the horse. 

Dobbin

Appearing in the England and Wales Top 1000, Darcie-Mae is a hyphenated choice, blending surname-style Darcie with popular Mae. As such, it could have a variety of combined meanings, including: "dark, beloved one", "pearl form the town of Arcy", and "dark one born in May", as both Mae and Darcie have multiple origins. 

Darcie-mae

Lilting and pretty but with plenty of spark, this hyphenated name has been a stylish choice in the 2020s in England and Wales. While the length of Delilah may mean Rose gets dropped in everyday usage, it is about ten times less popular than its singular form. 

Delilah-rose

Familiar in the UK, this hyphenated name has a sparky, unisex sound but a feminine spelling. It debuted in the UK Top 1000 in 2020 and then reappeared again in 2025.

Darcie-rae

There are a lot of angry badass word names — Rebel, Rekker, Crash — but Discord is a new one, introduced by the Uma Thurman character in the film The Old Guard 2.

Discord

Stylish Delilah meets vintage Mae to make this spirited compound name, which has the combined meaning of "delicate and beloved", "delicate drop of the sea", or "languishing, weak, and bitter", depending on which interpretation you choose to follow. 

Delilah-mae

Said to rhyme with Earl or Pearl, Dearle is a surname style name, likely from the Old English deorling, meaning "darling, beloved, dear one". Considered a variation of Darrell, it could make an unexpected honor name, or an alternative to Della or Dolly.

Dearle

While Dawn feels dated for girls having had its heyday back in the seventies, could this word name make a fresh and unexpected option for boys, as a spin on the likes of Dan, Don, Shawn, Dean, and John? 
 
Some parents certainly through so in 2024, when the name reappeared in the stats for boys for the first time in thirty years. Given to six boys compared to 108 girls, five percent of all Dawns born were boys. 
 
Dawn for boys isn't an entirely novel concept, as implied above, and it has been occasionally given since the 1920s. During 60s and 70s, there were even two occasions when more than 50 boys received the name, however, due to just how popular it was for girls at the time, boys made up less than 1% of all Dawns born in the US.
 
With its nature related meaning and its associations with new beginnings and fresh starts, Dawn does hold some appeal. Time will tell if it catches on as a gender neutral word option.

Dawn

A word name, a color name, and a brand name, Damson is associated with a type of fruit, a shade of purple and the fashion brand, Damson Madder. While some may find it far too close to the word damn to be used as a name, others may find the wordy feel and the stylish -son ending appealing.
 
Currently a rare choice, it is borne by actor Damson Idris, though in his case, it is a short form of Adamson, a surname style choice, meaning "son of Adam" or more figuratively, "son of the red earth". 
 
As such, it could be pronounced like the fruit (DAM-zuhn) or more like the end of Adamson (DAM-suhn).

Damson

A new-age literary name, Dessen is the surname of Y.A. author, Sarah Dessen, writer of That Summer, Just Listen, and The Truth About Forever. With nickname Dessie, it may appeal to fans of the author or to those who like surname-names in general.
 
A name with a variety of origins, it may simply borrow from the German word dessen meaning "whose, of which" or it may be used as an English contraction of Desmond (perhaps inspired by Irish short form Deasún). Alternatively, it may have its roots in French, from the word dessus meaning "above, on top" referring to the placement of something, though it may also be associated with the highest 'voice' of a piece of music.

Dessen

With "boyish" nicknames on trend for girls right now, could this distinctive spelling of Davey/Davie catch on? Could it be the next Everleigh?
 
Notably borne by actress Daveigh Chase, the name entered the US stats in 2003, following the release of both The Ring and Lilo and Stitch, in which the actress starred. While she pronounced her name as duh-VAY, it could be pronounced as DAY-vee too.

Daveigh

A quirky and unexpected nickname, used by jazz musician, Dizzy Gillespie (born John), baseball player Dizzy Dean (born Jay), and by rapper Dizzee Rascal, albeit a different spelling (born Dylan). While it has been used nearly exclusively as a nickname and stage name, 19 boys were given the name in the US between 1935 and 1937, likely following Dizzy Dean's success in 1934, when he won 30 games in one season. 



Dizzy

Derived from the Old English déma or démere, Deems may translate to "judge", as in, the occupational kind in a court of law. Other sources suggest it could equally come from Delamare, a Norman French name meaning "from the pond"; from Dymphna, an Irish name meaning "calf"; or from the Anglo-Saxon Deormann, meaning "dear-beloved man" or "fierce man". 
 
Rare as a first name, it has never the less been given very occasionally and might just appeal to lovers of plural names like Banks, Hayes, and Reeves. Composer (Joseph) Deems Taylor who worked on Disney's Fantasia is one notable bearer.

Deems

English names that start with the letter D for boys and girls, including Dodo, Dune, Dylana, Digby, Dobbin, Darcie-mae, Delilah-rose, Darcie-rae, Discord, Delilah-mae, Dearle, Dawn, Damson, Dessen, Daveigh, Dizzy, and Deems. (Page 8)

English Names that Start With D

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