One hundred properly counted D names, the newest England and Wales rankings and an easier way to choose
100 Baby Girl Names That Start With D
The quick answer: this page contains exactly 100 distinct girl-name ideas beginning with D. In the official 2025 England and Wales girls’ top 100, three exact D spellings appeared: Daisy ranked 18th, Delilah 32nd and Darcie 92nd. Daisy was registered to 1,454 babies, Delilah to 1,180 and Darcie to 513. Darcy is a separate spelling, so it is not folded into Darcie’s number.
D can be bright and botanical—Daisy, Dahlia and Daphne—or wonderfully vintage in Dorothy, Dinah and Doreen. It also travels well: Daniela, Deepa, Divya, Dua, Damla and Dimitra come from very different languages and traditions. That range is exactly why a giant “meaning” beside every name is less useful than it looks. A careful shortlist respects the specific origin rather than squeezing every D name into the same pastel box.
Browse the complete 100, then keep the names you would enjoy saying on an ordinary day. For more options, open the A girl-name guide, our larger girl-name list or the matching K boy-name guide. You do not have to find “the one” before breakfast.
Which D girl names are popular in the UK?
The newest official figures available are the Office for National Statistics baby-name tables for 2025, released on 9 July 2026. They cover live births in England and Wales. Three spellings beginning with D reached the girls’ top 100.
| Name | 2025 rank | Babies registered | Change from 2024 | Change from 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daisy | 18 | 1,454 | No change | Up 2 places |
| Delilah | 32 | 1,180 | Up 1 place | Up 134 places |
| Darcie | 92 | 513 | Down 2 places | Down 18 places |
Delilah’s longer-term climb is the standout: its 2025 position was 134 places higher than in 2015. Daisy stayed in the same position as 2024, while Darcie moved down two. Rankings can bounce when registration counts are close, so a one-place movement is not a cultural earthquake.
The ONS counts exact spellings. Darcie and Darcy are separate; Dottie and Dotty would be separate; Daniela and Daniella would be separate. Names used for only one or two babies are suppressed to protect confidentiality. A name missing from the published table may therefore have been used, and a name in our wider list is not necessarily recorded in 2025. Scotland and Northern Ireland publish separate data.
If you want familiar but not top ten: Daisy, Delilah and Darcie all sit outside the national top ten. If you want a D name outside the top 100, the table gives you a starting point—but check future releases because popularity changes.
The full list: 100 girl names that start with D
Every item below is counted once. The list mixes traditional first names, spelling variants, short forms, modern word names, names from several languages and names used across genders. It is an ideas directory, not a claim that every entry belongs to one culture, has one meaning or appeared in the ONS top 100.
Dacey to Dara
- Dacey
- Dagmar
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Dakota
- Daksha
- Dalal
- Dale
- Dalia
- Dallas
- Damaris
- Damla
- Dana
- Danae
- Dani
- Dania
- Daniela
- Danielle
- Daphne
- Dara
Darby to Deirdre
- Darby
- Darcie
- Darcy
- Daria
- Darlene
- Darsha
- Darshana
- Daryl
- Davida
- Davina
- Dawn
- Dawson
- Daya
- Dayla
- Dayna
- Deborah
- Dee
- Deepa
- Deepika
- Deirdre
Delaney to Devika
- Delaney
- Delara
- Delia
- Delilah
- Della
- Delphina
- Delphine
- Delta
- Delyth
- Demelza
- Demetria
- Demi
- Denisa
- Denise
- Denny
- Deryn
- Desiree
- Desna
- Destiny
- Devika
Devin to Doreen
- Devin
- Devon
- Devyn
- Dextra
- Diamond
- Diana
- Diane
- Dianne
- Dimitra
- Dina
- Dinah
- Dionne
- Divya
- Diya
- Dolly
- Dolores
- Dominique
- Donna
- Dora
- Doreen
Doria to Dzifa
- Doria
- Dorina
- Dorinda
- Doris
- Dorota
- Dorothea
- Dorothy
- Dottie
- Dove
- Dream
- Drew
- Dreya
- Drina
- Dru
- Drusilla
- Dua
- Dulce
- Dunia
- Dylan
- Dzifa
Choose a smaller D-name lane
If a hundred names turn into a blur, begin with the feeling you want. These groups are suggestions, not strict boxes; many names could live in more than one row.
| If you like… | Try these | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| Flowers and nature | Daisy, Dahlia, Daphne, Dawn, Dove | Some are direct nature words; Daphne comes through a much older Greek name and myth |
| Vintage names | Dorothy, Dorothea, Dinah, Doris, Doreen, Deborah, Diana, Donna | Try the full form and likely nickname: Dorothy may quickly become Dottie or Dolly |
| Short names | Dee, Demi, Diya, Dua, Dana, Dina, Dora, Drew | Short first names can pair beautifully with a longer surname |
| Names used across genders | Dakota, Dallas, Dani, Darby, Darcy, Devin, Devon, Drew, Dylan, Dominique | Usage varies by country, language and generation |
| Longer, flowing names | Daniela, Danielle, Delphina, Demetria, Dominique, Dorothea, Drusilla | Check which nickname, if any, you actually like |
| International choices | Damla, Deepa, Devika, Divya, Dimitra, Dua, Dunia, Dzifa | Learn the specific language and pronunciation; “international” is not one origin |
Popularity and style do not have to control the choice. A familiar name can still feel distinctive in one school, while a supposedly rare one may appear twice in the same antenatal group. Choose for the family you have, not an imaginary national naming committee. If you are also gathering boy options, the B boy-name list and broader boy-name guide keep the search in the same practical format.
Selected meanings and origins, with the shortcuts removed
Name histories are untidy in a good way. A spelling may be shared by unrelated languages, move from surname to first name, or become a nickname in one family and a full legal name in another. Reliable references sometimes disagree because the historical evidence is uncertain. Here are useful starting notes—not mystical job descriptions for a newborn.
| Name | A careful origin note | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Daisy | An English flower name; the flower word comes from “day’s eye” | Whether you like the direct nature association as much as the sound |
| Dahlia | A flower name formed from the surname of botanist Anders Dahl | Common pronunciations differ |
| Daphne | A Greek name meaning laurel, familiar from Greek mythology | The mythological story if that association matters to you |
| Dalia | A spelling found in more than one naming tradition | Do not automatically treat it as merely a Dahlia variant |
| Dana | A name with several separate linguistic and gender traditions | Which origin your family intends |
| Dara | Used in several cultures with different roots and gender patterns | Pronunciation and meaning vary |
| Daria | A feminine form connected with Darius | Stress and pronunciation vary by language |
| Davina | A Scottish feminine form of David | Whether Vina is a nickname you enjoy |
| Dawn | A direct English word name for daybreak | It has a strong mid-20th-century association in Britain |
| Deborah | A Hebrew name traditionally translated as bee | Deb, Debbie and Debs may arrive naturally |
| Delia | An ancient Greek form associated with the island of Delos; it is also used as a short form | More than one longer-name route exists |
| Delilah | A Biblical Hebrew name whose precise ancient meaning is debated | Be wary of websites stating one pretty meaning as settled fact |
| Divya | A Sanskrit-derived name associated with the divine or heavenly | Ask speakers about natural pronunciation |
| Dorothy | From Greek elements commonly translated as gift of God | Dorothea reverses the same elements; it is not just a longer spelling |
| Dua | An Arabic name connected with prayer or supplication | Its religious and linguistic context matters more than a celebrity link |
| Dulce | A Spanish and Portuguese form connected with sweetness | Pronunciation differs from an English reading |
| Demelza | A Cornish place name that later became used as a first name | Place-name meanings online are often overconfident |
| Dolly and Dottie | Long-used short forms, especially linked with Dorothy; either can also stand alone | Whether you want a formal version available |
For a name from a language you do not speak, verify it with a dependable reference and, where possible, a person from that community. Automated lists are especially shaky with names written in another script: meaning can depend on the original characters, not the nearest English spelling.
Which D names are gender-neutral?
Dakota, Dallas, Dani, Darby, Darcy, Dale, Daryl, Dawson, Devin, Devon, Devyn, Drew, Dru, Dylan and Dominique have all been used beyond one gender in at least some countries or periods. Dana and Dara also cross gender boundaries, but their histories vary by culture.
There is no worldwide naming referee. A name may read as feminine in one country, masculine in another and neutral to a third generation. Use current local data if that perception matters to you, and listen to how the name is used in its originating community. This page answers a common “girl names beginning with D” search; it does not claim ownership of the names.
The two-person shortlist that avoids a six-week argument
Each chooser privately picks five names from the directory. Combine the lists, automatically keep any overlap, then discuss only the remaining favourites. Give each person two no-explanation vetoes. That produces a manageable shortlist without turning every rejected name into a court case.
| Test | Try this | What you are learning |
|---|---|---|
| The hallway test | Say “Daisy, we’re leaving” and “Daphne, dinner’s ready” at normal volume | Whether it feels natural in everyday use |
| The full-name test | Say and write first, middle and surname together | Rhythm, repeated sounds and awkward joins |
| The phone test | Pretend to give the name while booking an appointment | How much spelling or pronunciation correction to expect |
| The nickname test | List the obvious short forms and teasing possibilities without becoming ridiculous | Whether a likely version genuinely bothers you |
| The 48-hour test | Use your top two privately for two days, then swap | Which one keeps feeling warm rather than merely clever |
Initials are worth one calm check, especially with a middle name, but almost any name can produce a silly rhyme if adults work hard enough. Do not hand that power to an imaginary playground. A pronunciation correction is not automatically a burden either; the question is whether your family is happy to make it.
Keep the name decision in proportion. Our before-baby planning guide covers the less photogenic jobs, and the first days of parenthood guide is useful when everyone else is discussing monogrammed blankets. If you are planning a celebration, the baby-shower guide works perfectly well without revealing the shortlist.
Spellings and nicknames that deserve their own decision
Darcie and Darcy are separate spellings in official statistics. So are Dottie and Dotty, Dalia and Dahlia, Diane and Dianne. They may sound identical in your accent, but the written form will follow the child through registers, email addresses and introductions. Choose the spelling you actually prefer rather than the one an app labels “more unique”.
Short forms are not inevitable, but they are worth considering. Daniela may become Dani; Deborah may become Deb or Debbie; Dorothy may become Dot, Dottie or Dolly; Delilah may become Lilah. If you adore the full name and dislike every obvious nickname, decide whether correcting people will annoy you. If you love Dottie but feel no attachment to Dorothy, Dottie can be considered on its own.
The registration deadline can make the name feel urgent. Keep care questions separate: NHS baby health and care and NHS Start for Life baby advice are there for the practical early-days advice.
Registering the baby’s name
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a birth normally has to be registered within 42 days. You will give the baby’s name, surname and sex along with details about the birth and parents. Scotland has a different process and deadline, so use the rules for the place of registration rather than a generic UK checklist.
You are allowed to wait until after the birth to settle the choice. Try both finalists when you meet the baby and complete the registration within the official window. The GOV.UK guidance explains who can register in different family circumstances and what documents or information the register office may ask for.
A naming guide should not become a health guide by accident. For baby care, feeding and sleep, use NHS baby health and care and NHS Start for Life baby advice.
Common questions
What is the most popular girl name starting with D?
In the 2025 England and Wales girls’ data, Daisy was the highest D name at number 18, with 1,454 registrations. Delilah ranked 32nd and Darcie 92nd.
How many D girl names were in the 2025 top 100?
Three exact spellings: Daisy, Delilah and Darcie. The ONS treats alternative spellings separately and suppresses names used only once or twice.
Are Darcy and Darcie the same name in the rankings?
No. They may be variants in everyday conversation, but the ONS counts exact written names. Darcie’s 513 registrations cannot be used as a total for every Darcy spelling.
Is Dottie a full name?
It can be. Dottie has long been used as a short form of Dorothy, but parents also register nickname-style names independently. Decide whether you want the formal option, not whether a list permits it.
Should we tell family the shortlist?
Only if their input will genuinely help. A small, trusted pronunciation check can be useful. A family-wide vote often rewards the most familiar name and gives everybody the impression that they own a veto.
The bottom line
A good name does not need to win every category. It needs to work with the surname, feel respectful in its real cultural context and still sound like your child when the novelty has worn off. Pick five D names, test the top two in normal sentences, and choose the one you both keep wanting to say.
Sources checked for this guide
KidsCo checked these sources on 8 August 2026. The official statistics support the rankings; the name reference supports origin checking; the registration page supports the practical deadline:
- Office for National Statistics: baby names in England and Wales, 2025 release (published 9 July 2026)
- ONS girls’ name dataset for England and Wales (rank, count and comparison tables)
- ONS baby-name quality and methodology information
- Behind the Name: feminine names beginning with D (cross-checking established forms and origin notes)
- GOV.UK: register a birth
