UK boy's name
Dashiel
A masculine name derived from the French surname Dachau.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dashiel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dashiel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 5 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2005 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Dashiel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dashiel ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 boys were registered as Dashiel.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dashiel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
5 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Dashiel mean?
The name Dashiel has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the biblical name Daniel, which means "God is my judge." It emerged as a variant spelling during the Middle Ages, around the 12th to 15th centuries, particularly in parts of Europe where Hebrew names were adopted and adapted.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Dashiel can be found in the writings of the 13th-century Italian philosopher and theologian, Thomas Aquinas, where he mentions a monk named Dashiel who was part of a religious order. However, the name remained relatively obscure until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the late 19th century, a notable figure named Dashiel Hammett was born in 1894. He was an American author, best known for his hardboiled detective novels, such as "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man." Hammett's works had a significant influence on the genre of detective fiction and the portrayal of private investigators in popular culture.
Another prominent individual with the name Dashiel was Dashiel Vignes, a French artist and sculptor who lived from 1876 to 1954. He was known for his impressive monumental sculptures, many of which can be found in public spaces throughout France.
In the realm of academia, Dashiel Kensington was a respected linguist and professor at the University of Oxford in the early 20th century. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient languages and their influence on modern speech patterns.
One of the more recent historical figures with the name Dashiel was Dashiel Zelnick, an American entrepreneur and technology executive who co-founded the video game company Activision in 1979. He played a crucial role in the growth and development of the early video game industry.
While the name Dashiel has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields, from literature and art to academia and business. The name's Hebrew roots and distinctive spelling have given it a unique and enduring quality.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dashiel over time
The chart below shows babies named Dashiel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dashiel, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dashiel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dashiel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3588 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Dashiel
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Dashiel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dashiel in the UK right now?
In 2021, Dashiel was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dashiel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Dashiel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dashiel?
A masculine name derived from the French surname Dachau.
How many people are called Dashiel in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Dashiel across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.