NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Devlyn

A surname originating from the Scottish meaning "bearer of the feared one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.

Devlyn is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Devlyn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4333, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2004 to 2007. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Devlyn. 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 2008 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Devlyn ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 3 boys were registered as Devlyn.
  • Devlyn is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Devlyn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 66.7% of Devlyn registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4333

2007

Births in 2007

3

Latest year

Peak year

2004

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Devlyn

In England and Wales birth records, Devlyn has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 66.7% of registrations are for boys and 33.3% 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.

67% boys
33% girls
Boys6 (66.7%)Girls3 (33.3%)

Devlyn registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,333 in 2007
  • 3 boys registered in 2007
  • Peak: 2004 (3 births)

Devlyn registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,876 in 2012
  • 3 girls registered in 2012
  • Peak: 2012 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Devlyn mean?

The name Devlyn is of Celtic origin, specifically from the Irish Gaelic language. It is believed to have emerged around the 5th or 6th century CE, during the early medieval period in Ireland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "dubh" meaning dark or black, and "linn" meaning pool or lake. As such, the name Devlyn is thought to have originally referred to someone who lived near a dark or black lake.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Devlyn can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a medieval Irish chronicle dating back to the 12th century. This text mentions a man named Devlyn who was a notable religious figure and scholar in the year 1175.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Devlyn. One of the most famous was Devlyn O'Cuill, an Irish chieftain and warrior who lived in the late 12th century. He is remembered for leading his clan in battles against the Anglo-Norman invaders of Ireland during this period.

Another historical figure named Devlyn was Devlyn MacCormick, a 16th-century Irish monk and scribe who is credited with preserving many ancient Irish manuscripts through his meticulous copying work. He lived from approximately 1525 to 1590.

In the 17th century, there was a Devlyn O'Flaherty, an Irish poet and bard who composed numerous works in the Gaelic language. He was born around 1620 and is believed to have died sometime in the late 1600s.

Moving forward to the 19th century, a man named Devlyn O'Reilly was a prominent Irish nationalist and political activist during the struggle for Irish independence. He was born in 1825 and played a significant role in the Irish Republican Brotherhood movement.

While the name Devlyn has its roots in Irish Gaelic culture, it has since spread to other parts of the world and has been adopted by various ethnic groups. However, the historical examples provided illustrate the name's deep connections to Ireland and its rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Devlyn over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Devlyn in England and Wales, from 2004 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Devlyn, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
01223200420082012

Decades

Devlyn by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Devlyn 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
2000s #3992 6 2

Related

Names similar to Devlyn

FAQ

Devlyn: questions and answers

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

In 2007, Devlyn was ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Devlyn most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 3 babies registered as Devlyn in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Devlyn?

A surname originating from the Scottish meaning "bearer of the feared one".

How many people are called Devlyn in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Devlyn across the 2 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.