Dog Names That Start With D

There is some controversy over the origin and meaning of this name, though most reputable sources define it as a Hindi name meaning kindness or compassion. Also spelled, Daia, other sources say it may mean "joy" or be a Hebrew name with the meaning "bird of prey". It has recently been made familiar through the character of Daya Diaz on Orange is the New Black .

Originally a short form of Odell, a place name turned surname that hails from England.

This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than our fifties Robin.

This Danielle/Monique hybrid offers a new twist on an old favorite.

Drummer entered the baby name lexicon thanks to blogger No Big Dill, who chose it for her newborn son, who joins five older sisters. Drummer is right in step with other occupational names in vogue now, from Archer to Gardener. Let's just hope Drummer doesn't prefer to play the piano.

If you're a movie fan or a sports fan, you might be attracted to this name, via the film "Donnie Darko" or the Serbian-born basketball star Darko Milicic. It is kind of dark, though.

A sweet and simple multicultural choice which has several different meanings and origins.

Italian heritage name. It's sweet and simple, but has fallen almost out of use since its heyday in the 1960s.

Dior was among the fastest-rising names for both girls and boys in the US in the early 2020s, but was the fastest-falling name for boys in the 2023 statistics.

Has joined Chanel and Armani on the fashionista hit parade of names. The meaning of Dior is uncertain but it may be "gold".

Dark horse Irish surname.

Cross-cultural name with a great nautical meaning. It boomed in the 1930s and has potential for revival now.

The name of the great French novelist, author of the timeless The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, would make a surprising middle name choice.

Much fresher and more energetic than Dominique.

Derya is a unisex name in its native Turkey, though even there it is far more popular for women than for men. It is related to the Persian name Daria, which also means sea.

This genial Irish surname feels much more current than Donald.

Desi makes Desiree a lot cuter and more boyish.

This Indonesian name meaning little goddess is also common in the Netherlands due to the old colonial relationship between the two countries.

Beach boy name of the 1960s, Darrell is still a presence on the charts and may graduate into a stately surname name.

A relatively common surname, Dixon would be an inventive way to honor an ancestral Richard or Dick, the X form a lot livelier than the Dickson spelling, just as Dix is a more modern short form than Dick; it would be right at home alongside Dax and Jax.