NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Deacan

A Scottish name derived from the Greek meaning "messenger" or "servant".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Deacan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Deacan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4812, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 7 births.

This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2001 to 2017. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Deacan. 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 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Deacan ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 7 boys were registered as Deacan.
  • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Deacan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4812

2017

Births in 2017

3

Latest year

Peak year

2007

7 births

Estimated living

51

2026

Meaning

What does Deacan mean?

The name Deacan is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "deacon," which means "servant" or "minister." It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

In the early days of Christianity, deacons played a crucial role in assisting priests and bishops with various tasks, such as distributing alms to the poor and managing the Church's affairs. The name Deacan was likely given to individuals who served in this capacity or were associated with the Church in some way.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deacan can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a person named "Deacan" who held land in the county of Gloucestershire.

Throughout the centuries, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Deacan. One such person was Deacan of Winchester (1080-1142), an English cleric and scholar who served as the Bishop of Winchester from 1139 until his death. He was renowned for his knowledge of canon law and his influential writings on various theological and legal matters.

Another prominent figure was Deacan de Turbeville (1230-1294), a French knight and crusader who participated in the Eighth Crusade led by King Louis IX of France. He gained recognition for his bravery and military prowess during the campaigns in the Holy Land.

In the 16th century, Deacan Frith (1509-1533) was an English Protestant reformer and scholar who played a significant role in the early stages of the English Reformation. He was executed for heresy during the reign of King Henry VIII due to his radical religious views and his opposition to certain Catholic doctrines.

During the 17th century, Deacan Wilkins (1614-1672) was an influential English clergyman, natural philosopher, and author. He was a founding member of the Royal Society and made substantial contributions to the development of various scientific fields, including optics, mechanics, and cryptography.

In the realm of literature, Deacan Swift (1667-1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, and poet, best known for his famous works such as "Gulliver's Travels" and "A Modest Proposal." His biting satire and sharp wit earned him a place among the most celebrated writers of the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Deacan over time

The chart below shows babies named Deacan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Deacan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Deacan
02457200120092017

Decades

Deacan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Deacan 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
2010s #3979 25 6
2000s #3252 26 6

Related

Names similar to Deacan

FAQ

Deacan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Deacan in the UK right now?

In 2017, Deacan was ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Deacan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 7 babies registered as Deacan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Deacan?

A Scottish name derived from the Greek meaning "messenger" or "servant".

How many people are called Deacan in the UK?

A total of 51 babies have been registered as Deacan across the 12 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.