NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Devin

Small-statured or diminutive one, of Celtic or Gaelic origin.

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.

Devin is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Devin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1199, with 23 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 23 births.

This profile covers 468 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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.

Devin is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 587 living people in the UK are called Devin. 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

  • Devin ranked #1199 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 23 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 23 boys were registered as Devin.
  • Devin ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #315 in 2014.
  • About 587 living people in the UK are estimated to have Devin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 93.4% of Devin registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1199

2024

Births in 2024

23

Latest year

Peak year

2024

23 births

Estimated living

587

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Devin

In England and Wales birth records, Devin has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 93.4% of registrations are for boys and 6.6% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

93% boys
Boys468 (93.4%)Girls33 (6.6%)

Devin registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,199 in 2024
  • 23 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (23 births)

Devin registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,891 in 2024
  • 3 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Devin mean?

The name Devin is thought to have originated from the Celtic language, specifically the Irish Gaelic term "dubh fhionn," which translates to "dark complexion" or "dark-haired." This name gained prominence during the medieval period in Ireland and Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Devin can be traced back to the 6th century, when it appeared in ancient Irish annals and manuscripts. During this time, it was commonly used as a given name for men in Ireland and Scotland.

In the 9th century, the name Devin was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. This historical record documented various events and individuals bearing this name, indicating its widespread use among the Irish and Scottish populations.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Devin. One of the earliest was Devin of Cahir, an Irish king who ruled over the Kingdom of Munster in the 10th century. Another prominent figure was Devin of Killaloe, a 12th-century Irish bishop and ecclesiastical writer.

In the 13th century, Devin of Burren was a renowned Irish scholar and poet who composed works in the Irish language. During the same period, Devin of Inishowen was a prominent chieftain and military leader in Ulster, known for his bravery and tactical skills.

Moving forward to the 16th century, Devin of Leinster was a celebrated Irish harper and composer, renowned for his contributions to traditional Irish music. His works were widely celebrated and have been preserved through oral tradition and written records.

While the name Devin has its roots in Celtic culture, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its historical significance and cultural associations remain deeply rooted in the Irish and Scottish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Devin over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Devin in England and Wales, 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 Devin, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 23 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
07132026199620102024

Decades

Devin by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Devin 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 #1523 84 5
2010s #1488 172 10
2000s #1183 168 10
1990s #1256 44 4

Geography

Where Devin is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Devin. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Devin ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #315 in 2014.

Northern Ireland
5
Scotland
3

Across the UK

Devin in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#727 in 2024

21 years of NRS records, 107 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#315 in 2014

4 years of NISRA records, 16 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Devin

  • Devin Griffin

    actor; disc jockey; television actor; broadcaster

    British broadcaster, DJ and Actor

    1984-

  • Devin Stanfield

    television actor

    British actor

    1971-

Related

Names similar to Devin

FAQ

Devin: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Devin was ranked #1199 for boys in England and Wales, with 23 births registered.

When was Devin most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 23 babies registered as Devin in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Devin?

Small-statured or diminutive one, of Celtic or Gaelic origin.

How many people are called Devin in the UK?

A total of 468 babies have been registered as Devin across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 107 more in Scotland and 16 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Devin most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Devin ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #315 in 2014. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.