Dea
Primarily a girl's name of Latin origin with 1,803 recorded births. Also given to 17 boys.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name
Dea is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin dea, meaning 'goddess' — the most direct possible declaration: that this child is a goddess, divine, beyond the ordinary. Also used as a short form of Dorothea (gift of God) in Scandinavian countries.
With nearly 1,800 recorded births, Dea carries a breathtaking directness — it does not merely say its bearer is like a goddess or has goddess-like qualities; it simply declares: goddess. In Scandinavian countries, Dea is used as a warm nickname for Dorothea. As a standalone name or a short form, Dea has a clean, powerful sound — one syllable of divine declaration.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Dea's final sounds are bright, upbeat — lending a cheerful, energetic quality. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Dea follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Dea's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dea climbed 1061 spots in the last 20 years — from #7492 to #6431.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 77 | #7461 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 187 | #6929 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 176 | #6821 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 71 | #9637 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 164 | #5087 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 273 | #2870 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 340 | #2062 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 249 | #2249 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 133 | #2743 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 38 | #3502 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 47 | #4228 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 43 | #3856 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 5 | #1740 | — |
The Story of Dea
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1963, Dea is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Dea are most likely born between 1953 and 1973.
How rare is Dea?
Only about 1 in every 200,000 babies born in 2024 was named Dea — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1901, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1960s with 340 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Dea by the numbers
- Would fill 38 school buses
- Meeting one Dea per day would take 4.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(103 years, 1901–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | #6431 |
| 2023 | 17 | #6730 |
| 2022 | 19 | #6269 |
| 2021 | 13 | #8143 |
| 2020 | 10 | #9734 |
| 2019 | 25 | #5196 |
| 2018 | 19 | #6318 |
| 2017 | 9 | #10907 |
| 2016 | 23 | #5668 |
| 2015 | 23 | #5703 |
| 2014 | 22 | #5842 |
| 2013 | 14 | #8246 |
| 2012 | 17 | #7225 |
| 2011 | 17 | #7197 |
| 2010 | 18 | #6986 |
| 2009 | 19 | #6879 |
| 2008 | 19 | #6872 |
| 2007 | 23 | #5949 |
| 2006 | 18 | #6935 |
| 2005 | 19 | #6341 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Dea as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Dea has also been given to 17 boys in the U.S. since 1921.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dea a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dea most popular?
How popular is the name Dea?
Can Dea be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1901–2024