Deja
Primarily a girl's name of French origin with 16,215 recorded births. Also given to 86 boys.
Meaning & Origin
a male surname
Deja is a girl's and boy's baby name of French origin, from the French expression déjà vu, meaning 'already seen' — that uncanny sensation of having experienced something before. As a name, Deja carries both the French language's elegance and an intriguing, slightly mysterious meaning.
With over 16,000 recorded births in U.S. SSA data, Deja has meaningful American roots, particularly in African-American communities. R&B singer Beyoncé's song 'Déjà Vu' brought the word-as-name concept considerable attention. The name has a bright, contemporary sound that works beautifully as a standalone, while carrying an association with memory, recognition, and the mystical quality of familiar moments.
EtymologyShow more
Though Deja dates back to 1962 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The French classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Deja’s 16,215 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by tens of thousands of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Deja was #592 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2850, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 364 | #2462 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,234 | #1749 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 5,238 | #626 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 8,271 | #483 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 951 | #1849 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 152 | #4347 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 5 | #6789 | — |
The Story of Deja
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1996, Deja is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Deja are most likely born between 1986 and 2006.
How rare is Deja?
Only about 1 in every 62,069 babies born in 2024 was named Deja — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1962, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 8,271 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Deja by the numbers
- Would fill 338 school buses
- Meeting one Deja per day would take 44.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(55 years, 1962–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58 | #2850 |
| 2023 | 73 | #2447 |
| 2022 | 82 | #2276 |
| 2021 | 80 | #2292 |
| 2020 | 71 | #2445 |
| 2019 | 89 | #2113 |
| 2018 | 91 | #2100 |
| 2017 | 106 | #1906 |
| 2016 | 104 | #1933 |
| 2015 | 126 | #1686 |
| 2014 | 122 | #1717 |
| 2013 | 136 | #1581 |
| 2012 | 136 | #1593 |
| 2011 | 139 | #1573 |
| 2010 | 185 | #1289 |
| 2009 | 274 | #970 |
| 2008 | 311 | #894 |
| 2007 | 433 | #678 |
| 2006 | 362 | #758 |
| 2005 | 358 | #749 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Deja as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Deja has also been given to 86 boys in the U.S. since 1979.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deja a boy's or girl's name?
When was Deja most popular?
How popular is the name Deja?
Can Deja be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1962–2024