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Dev as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Dev

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The baby name Dev is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /dɛv/ (DEHV).

Dev is Celtic, English, Sanskrit in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Celtic, English, Sanskrit
Pronunciation: /dɛv/ (DEHV)

What is the meaning of the name Dev ?

The baby name Dev is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /dɛv/ (DEHV).

Dev is Celtic, English, Sanskrit in Origin.

Dev is a masculine given name from Sanskrit deva (देव), meaning “god, deity,” with shades of “divine,” “heavenly,” and “shining.” The term descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *dyeu- (“sky, day, to shine”), making it a cognate of Latin deus and related to words like “divine.” In South Asian languages (Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Nepali), Dev retains this sacred, luminous sense and functions both as a name and an honorific epithet.

As a personal name, Dev has long been used across the subcontinent, with the root deva central in Vedic literature. It stands alone or serves as a theophoric element in compounds: Devendra (“lord of the gods”), Devraj, Devadatta, Devansh, and Punjabi/Sikh Devinder. Variants and short forms include Deva and Deven; feminine counterparts are Devi and Devika. Today Dev is popular in India and the diaspora, prized for its brevity, cross-cultural ease, and timeless spiritual resonance.

Dev has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Dev

Dev Patel Actor · Born 1990 · United Kingdom Dev Patel is a British actor best known for his role in the film Slumdog Millionaire, which earned him international acclaim. He also starred in movies like Lion and The Personal History of David Copperfield, showcasing his versatile acting skills. Dev Anand Actor · Born 1923 · India Dev Anand was a beloved Indian actor known for his charming roles in classic films like 'Guide' and 'Jewel Thief'. He captivated audiences with his charismatic performances and became a prominent figure in the Hindi film industry during the mid-20th century. Devendra Banhart Musician · Born 1981 · United States Devendra Banhart is a musician known for his unique blend of folk and psychedelic music. He gained attention with albums like 'Cripple Crow' and 'Rejoicing in the Hands'. His distinctive style and voice have made him a notable figure in the indie music scene.
Dev Musician · Born 1989 · United States Dev is a musician from the United States, best known for her hit single 'In the Dark'. She gained popularity with her feature on Far East Movement's 'Like a G6', which topped the charts in several countries.

Celebrity babies named Dev

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Dev Jagger Mick Jagger singer ★★★★★

Dev – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
FJ Boys 0 #17 1 603
ET Boys 0 #27 1 678
DJ Boys 0 #36 1 657
IN 0 #45 26 2,963
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
MV Boys 0 #77 3 3,375
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
QA 0 #88 13 7,011
IN Boys 0 #101 4,488 16,750
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
BN Girls 0 #111 4 5,459
KW 0 #113 9 5,216
OM 0 #114 8 6,215
MU 0 #129 9 3,613
AZ Boys 0 #130 2 1,400
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
MU Boys 0 #132 293 8,477
BN Boys 0 #133 7 6,332
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
QA Boys 0 #158 990 18,093
AE 0 #163 15 10,220
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
PR Boys 0 #177 2 2,508
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
Sweden Boys 2019 #183 2 1,462
LU Girls 0 #190 1 4,850
BD 0 #204 24 5,992
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
MO Boys 0 #206 18 5,842
PS 0 #223 4 5,692
PT 0 #249 2 4,161
TW Boys 0 #251 6 7,111
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
MO Girls 0 #258 6 7,056
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
Canada Boys 2024 #260 47 2,588
AF Boys 0 #271 4 3,535
GR Boys 0 #271 3 6,912
SA 0 #272 24 10,560
QA Girls 0 #275 42 15,378
SG 0 #275 8 11,010
JM Girls 0 #276 3 7,507
JP Boys 0 #276 22 7,909
IL 0 #279 4 6,291
JM Boys 0 #286 8 6,876
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
AL Boys 0 #298 6 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
CN Boys 0 #308 12 9,639
MY 0 #309 22 12,352
DK Boys 0 #328 5 7,401
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
KW Boys 0 #330 541 18,755
BD Boys 0 #336 279 10,045
PL Boys 0 #336 5 6,459
PT Boys 0 #351 17 7,951
MU Girls 0 #354 9 8,539
HK 0 #355 3 8,483
BD Girls 0 #357 30 8,413
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
GH Boys 0 #360 2 8,138
BH 0 #368 187 17,937
PH Boys 0 #369 15 11,440
OM Girls 0 #375 22 15,987
JO Boys 0 #381 9 7,057
France Boys 2021 #383 5 2,865
YE 0 #394 5 8,639
Finland Boys 0 #398 30 2,041
EG 0 #406 7 6,387
AE Boys 0 #425 969 22,615
PH Girls 0 #426 4 13,098
SD Boys 0 #431 15 10,523
SA Boys 0 #451 2,567 28,008
OM Boys 0 #462 503 17,948
ZA 0 #467 8 14,421
IN Girls 0 #472 161 13,121
AR Boys 0 #478 6 7,628
KW Girls 0 #485 31 19,177
RU Boys 0 #485 21 12,621
HK Boys 0 #487 41 12,905
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
PA Boys 0 #501 5 9,305
CR Boys 0 #507 4 10,188
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
PS Boys 0 #519 30 10,655
MY Boys 0 #520 728 25,439
IQ Girls 0 #523 3 11,303
AE Girls 0 #524 30 20,968
SG Boys 0 #526 173 17,960
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
PS Girls 0 #543 5 10,981
LY 0 #556 4 12,703
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
IR Boys 0 #560 6 10,162
CM Boys 0 #568 8 12,054
SG Girls 0 #570 17 18,916
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
IL Boys 0 #585 23 10,983
BO Boys 0 #621 2 9,244
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
IQ Boys 0 #633 35 13,071
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
HK Girls 0 #645 6 16,104
LB 0 #685 6 13,263
CL Boys 0 #693 8 13,390
IT 0 #705 10 4,183
United States Boys 2024 #759 134 7,044
SY 0 #762 6 11,684
BR Boys 0 #782 4 12,213
SA Girls 0 #803 133 25,931
TN 0 #815 15 13,765
NG Girls 0 #825 2 15,093
EG Boys 0 #830 57 15,035
Spain Boys 0 #902 29 5,610
CL Girls 0 #913 3 14,098
Germany Boys 0 #917 36 5,697
NL Boys 0 #918 34 5,873
PE Boys 0 #919 8 14,506
MY Girls 0 #928 67 24,821
NG Boys 0 #939 13 16,906
NL Girls 0 #944 12 5,933
CO Boys 0 #975 7 15,656
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
PE Girls 0 #1,005 6 14,861
EG Girls 0 #1,007 3 14,742
MX Boys 0 #1,027 7 16,355
MA 0 #1,049 80 20,986
ZA Boys 0 #1,083 96 25,619
ZA Girls 0 #1,126 16 25,928
DZ 0 #1,144 33 20,130
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
TR 0 #1,156 56 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,264 4 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,279 193 10,046

Dev is popular in 80 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
France
Ireland
Sweden

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Dev

Dev is predominantly a boy's name.
Dev is a one syllable name, pronounced /dɛv/ (DEHV).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Deva, Devan, Devendra, Devesh, Devansh and Devika (feminine derivative).
Across languages, Dev has these equivalents: Deva (Sanskrit), Deus (Latin), Theo/Theodore (Greek root theo- 'god'), Bogdan (Slavic, 'given by God').
Yes, very popular — Dev ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Dev ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Dev's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #319 in 2014 to #260 in 2024 in Canada.
Yes — 4 notable people named Dev are in our database, including Dev Patel (Actor), Dev Anand (Actor), Devendra Banhart (Musician).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Dev for their child, including Mick Jagger.