Holding steady.
Popularity of De since 1914
Babies named De per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 29 |
| 1920s | 10 | 19 |
| 1930s | 18 | 11 |
| 1940s | 69 | 5 |
| 1950s | 88 | 6 |
| 1960s | 148 | 15 |
| 1970s | 71 | 36 |
| 1980s | 55 | 77 |
| 1990s | 138 | 341 |
| 2000s | 39 | 135 |
| 2010s | 0 | 7 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
De is a short and simple name with an uncertain meaning, first recorded in Social Security data in 1914. It has never been highly popular, and its ranking has remained outside the top 1000 in the latest year (2025). The name saw its peak year in 1992, when it was used most frequently, though still not enough to achieve a rank. De has shown a stable trajectory in recent decades. It is most often given to boys, and its top states are not available in the data. For parents who prefer minimalist names or a nickname as a legal first name, De offers a straightforward and uncommon option.
De is primarily used as a given name in modern times, often as a shortened form of longer names such as DeAndre or DeShawn, or chosen for its simplicity. It may also derive from the French preposition de or be a respelling of Dee. Its usage as a standalone name has seen sporadic popularity in the United States, particularly in the late 20th century.
Sibling names for De
Names that share De's style, for a brother or sister.
