Dev
Boy name · #1433 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
Dev is currently the #1433 boy name in the United States — 126 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1538, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,286 boys born in 2025 was named Dev.
The 56-year story
Dev first appears in the Social Security records in 1969, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 145 boys were named Dev — good for #1232 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Dev per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dev against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dev in class?
Dev scores 59 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Dev is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dev is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Devs were CA (20), TX (15), NJ (14), WA (8), MA (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dev
Statistically, parents drawn to Dev tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Dov, Dhruv, Daylen, Davian, and Cian.
DovDhruvDaylenDavianCianJaiEwanDraven
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dev | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 126 | #1425 |
| 2024 | 134 | #1397 |
| 2023 | 110 | #1576 |
| 2022 | 111 | #1589 |
| 2021 | 111 | #1565 |
| 2020 | 98 | #1634 |
| 2019 | 114 | #1494 |
| 2018 | 117 | #1478 |
| 2017 | 134 | #1335 |
| 2016 | 121 | #1433 |
| 2015 | 106 | #1538 |
| 2014 | 113 | #1447 |
| 2013 | 114 | #1444 |
| 2012 | 119 | #1398 |
| 2011 | 136 | #1264 |
| 2010 | 114 | #1447 |
| 2009 | 145 | #1232 |
| 2008 | 107 | #1516 |
| 2007 | 104 | #1516 |
| 2006 | 111 | #1413 |
| 2005 | 101 | #1453 |
| 2004 | 117 | #1280 |
| 2003 | 111 | #1277 |
| 2002 | 66 | #1744 |
| 2001 | 72 | #1629 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dev a popular boy name?
Dev ranked #1433 among boys in 2025 with 126 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1538.
When was the name Dev most popular?
Dev peaked in 2009, when 145 American boys received the name (ranked #1232 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dev?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,286 newborn American boys was named Dev. It scores 59/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.