Dempsey Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

About Dempsey

Spunky Irish surname that still has a pugnacious feel from its lingering association with one of boxing's greatest champs, Jack Dempsey. Many people may associate it more with Patrick Dempsey these days—McDreamy from TV's Grey's Anatomy.

Dempsey for girls#3479 US

One of the cool new surname-names for girls, likely influenced by the stardom of Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy).

Pronounced DEMP-see.

As of October 2026, Dempsey ranked #3004 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #579 in 1880.

Popularity & trends

US popularity — history

US rank, lower is more popular · SSA data 2014–2025

Boys #3,004

Girls #3,479

20142025

18802025

Data table

Year	US rank · boys	Births · boys	US rank · girls	Births · girls
2014	#1,644	94	#4,687	30
2015	#2,003	72	#4,011	37
2016	#2,015	71	—	0
2017	#2,097	66	—	0
2018	#2,397	55	—	0
2019	#2,238	62	#4,573	30
2020	#2,519	51	—	0
2021	#2,082	70	#4,645	29
2022	#2,593	52	#4,826	28
2023	#2,347	59	#4,211	34
2024	#2,833	45	#4,675	29
2025	#3,004	41	#3,479	44

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Famous Dempseys

Dempsey BurgesBoy
U.S. Congressman from North Carolina
Dempsey Cothrin WilsonBoy
American racing driver
(Perce) Dempsey TablerBoy
American actor
Dempsey TravisBoy
American civil rights activist
Dempsey HovlandBoy
American baseball promoter
Dempsey PappionBoy
American actor
Dempsey W. MorganBoy
American WWII pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey IIIBoy
American baseball catcher
Quinlin Dempsey Stiller (b. 2005)Boy
son of actors Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor
Jack DempseyBoy
American boxer
Patrick DempseyBoy
American actor
Clint DempseyBoy
American soccer player

Dempsey in pop culture

"Dempsey and MakepeaceBoy
" British TV series about main character Lt. James Dempsey
Zachary "Zach" DempseyBoy
character in Jay Asher's novel and Netflix's series 13 Reasons Why