UK boy's name
Dev
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning divine, deity, or god.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dev is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dev popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #981, with 31 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 49 births.
This profile covers 763 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 758 living people in the UK are called Dev. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dev ranked #981 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 31 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 49 boys were registered as Dev.
- • About 758 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dev as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#981
2024
Births in 2024
31
Latest year
Peak year
2010
49 births
Estimated living
758
2026
Meaning
What does Dev mean?
The name Dev is of Sanskrit origin, deriving from the word 'deva' which means 'divine' or 'heavenly'. It is a name that has been used across various cultures and religions in the Indian subcontinent for centuries. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used as a reference to deities or celestial beings.
One of the most well-known historical figures with the name Dev is Dev Anand, an Indian film actor, writer, and producer who lived from 1923 to 2011. He was a pioneering figure in the Hindi film industry and is often regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema.
Another notable individual with the name Dev was Dev Patel, an English actor born in 1990. He rose to fame for his roles in films such as Slumdog Millionaire, for which he received numerous accolades and nominations, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
In the world of literature, Dev Virahsawmy was a Mauritian author and playwright who lived from 1942 to 2001. He is considered one of the most influential writers in the Mauritian literary scene and is known for his contributions to the development of Mauritian literature.
The name Dev has also been associated with historical figures in the field of music. Dev Anand Puri, born in 1972, is an Indian classical vocalist and composer who has performed extensively both in India and internationally.
Finally, Dev Raj Anand was an Indian writer and art critic who lived from 1923 to 2004. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice, poverty, and the human condition in modern India.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dev over time
The chart below shows babies named Dev registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dev, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 31 births in 2024, compared with 49 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dev by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dev 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 | #1097 | 130 | 5 |
| 2010s | #919 | 345 | 10 |
| 2000s | #955 | 256 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1506 | 32 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Dev
-
Dev Patel
screenwriter; actor; film director; television actor; film actor; taekwondo athlete
British actor (born 1990)
1990-
Related
Names similar to Dev
- 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
Dev: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dev in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dev was ranked #981 for boys in England and Wales, with 31 births registered.
When was Dev most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 49 babies registered as Dev in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dev?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning divine, deity, or god.
How many people are called Dev in the UK?
A total of 763 babies have been registered as Dev across the 29 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.