Boy name · Old English
Dunstan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: dark stoneDunstan is a boy's name that comes from Old English and means "dark stone". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Dark stone
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Boy
- Letters
- 7
Meaning and origin of Dunstan
As a boy's name, Dunstan comes from Old English and means "dark stone". It is used in English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Dunstan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Dunstan on 3 lists.
“Dark stone; Old English. Archbishop of Canterbury and patron saint of smiths”
From Medieval names and surnames, anglo-Saxon and Old English names
“Dark stone; Old English, borne by a 10th-century archbishop”
From Names that mean shadow, boy names that mean shadow or darkness
“Dark stone; Old English, a tenth-century archbishop of Canterbury”
From Unique boy names, rare Old English boy names
How popular is Dunstan?
- Recent US rank
- Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
- Best rank
- #5,849 in 1976
- 5 babies that year
- Babies since 1976
- At least 5
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
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| 2020s | 0 per million |
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 Dunstan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- DuncanBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- PetraRock, stone (Greek, girl)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- MelaniaBlack, dark (Greek, girl)
- MelanieBlack, dark (Greek, girl)
- CoralReef stone of the sea (Greek, girl)
- DonovanDark brown (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DouglasDark river (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DoyleDescendant of the dark stranger (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DuffDark (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- GemmaGem, precious stone (Latin, girl)
Middle names for Dunstan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
- LindsayLincoln island (Old English, unisex)
Dunstan: common questions
What does the name Dunstan mean?
Dunstan comes from Old English and means "dark stone".
Is Dunstan a boy or girl name?
Dunstan is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Dunstan come from?
Dunstan comes from Old English and means "dark stone". Today it is used in English.
What names are similar to Dunstan?
Names spelled like Dunstan include Duncan.
What middle names go with Dunstan?
Middle names that flow well with Dunstan include Alton, Beau, Glenn, Jack and Knox. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.