Boy name · Sanskrit
Dev
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: god, divineDev is a boy's name that comes from Sanskrit and means "god, divine". It is used in Indian.
- Meaning
- God, divine
- Origin
- Sanskrit
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- DAYV
Meaning and origin of Dev
As a boy's name, Dev comes from Sanskrit and means "god, divine". It is used in Indian.
Say it DAYV. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Dev on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Dev on 3 lists.
“Short for Devin or Devon, sleek and modern”
From Nicknames that start with D, nicknames for names that start with D
“God, divine; Sanskrit, short and sweet. Say DAYV”
From Cute boy names, cute boy names from around the world
“God, divine; Sanskrit, short and strong.”
From Indian names, indian names for boys
How popular is Dev?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,427
- 126 babies, 74 per million boys
- Best rank
- #1,235 in 2009
- 145 babies that year
- Babies since 1969
- At least 3,146
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 3 per million |
| 1980s | 5 per million |
| 1990s | 8 per million |
| 2000s | 49 per million |
| 2010s | 63 per million |
| 2020s | 67 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,434 | #1,336 | #1,482 | #1,499 | #1,638 | #1,567 | #1,592 | #1,581 | #1,398 | #1,427 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Dev
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
- GraceGrace, divine favor (Latin, girl)
- AnselmoDivine protection (Germanic, boy)
- DianeDivine (Latin, girl)
- AnselmeDivine protection (Germanic, boy)
- BożenaDivine, of God (Slavic, girl)
- DivinaDivine, godlike (Latin, girl)
- DivyaDivine, heavenly (Sanskrit, girl)
- GraçaGrace, divine favor (Latin, girl)
- TheiaGoddess, divine (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Dev
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- AndrewManly, brave (Greek, boy)
- EdwardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GraysonSon of the steward (English, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- ValentineStrong, healthy (Latin, unisex)
- WalterRuler of the army (Germanic, boy)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
- WesleyWest meadow (Old English, boy)
More boy names from Sanskrit
- AryaNoble, honorable (Sanskrit, unisex)
- BodhiEnlightenment (Sanskrit, boy)
- AbhayFearless (Sanskrit, boy)
- AbhilashDesire, wish (Sanskrit, boy)
- AdityaSon of Aditi; the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
- AdvaitNon-duality (Sanskrit, boy)
- AgniFire (Sanskrit, boy)
- AjayUnconquered, invincible (Sanskrit, boy)
- AkashThe sky (Sanskrit, boy)
- AkshayIndestructible, imperishable (Sanskrit, boy)
Dev: common questions
What does the name Dev mean?
Dev comes from Sanskrit and means "god, divine".
Is Dev a boy or girl name?
Dev is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Dev come from?
Dev comes from Sanskrit and means "god, divine". Today it is used in Indian.
How do you pronounce Dev?
Say DAYV. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Dev?
Dev ranked #1,427 in the US in 2025, with 126 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Dev?
Names spelled like Dev include Dov, Dag, Dan, Davi and Dean.
What middle names go with Dev?
Middle names that flow well with Dev include Andrew, Edward, Grayson, Isaac and Valentine. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.