Girl Names That Start With D
D names for girls tend to feel warm and grounded. The letter gives a firm start, which is why names like Delilah, Daisy and Daphne sound soft and confident at the same time. There are fewer D names in the US top 100 than A or E names, so picking one is an easy way to be familiar without being common.
Here you’ll find more than 100 girl names that start with D, grouped by style, each with its real meaning and origin. Love the retro ones? Our old lady names list is full of Dorothys and Doris-types. Want to compare letters? See girl names that start with C and E, or pair with boy names that start with D.
Popular girl names that start with D
The D names parents are choosing most right now, according to recent SSA data trends.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Delilah | Delicate, weak, languishing | Hebrew |
| Daisy | Day’s eye | Old English |
| Daniela | God is my judge | Hebrew (via Spanish) |
| Daphne | Laurel tree | Greek |
| Dakota | Friend, ally | Sioux (Dakota) |
| Destiny | Fate | English (from Latin) |
| Diana | Divine; Roman goddess of the hunt | Latin |
| Dahlia | The dahlia flower, named for botanist Anders Dahl | Swedish (botanical) |
| Delaney | Descendant of the challenger | Irish |
| Dylan | Son of the sea | Welsh |
| Dorothy | Gift of God | Greek |
| Danna | God is my judge (from Daniel) | Hebrew |
| Denise | Follower of Dionysus | French (from Greek) |
| Daleyza | Modern American coinage, popularized in the 2010s | American |
| Dream | A vision in sleep; an aspiration | English |
| Dayana | Divine (Spanish form of Diana) | Spanish |
| Denver | Green valley | English |
Vintage D names ready for a comeback
Names that peaked between the 1910s and 1950s. Dorothy is already rising again; the others are waiting for their moment. See vintage girl names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Doris | Dorian woman, from Doris in Greece | Greek |
| Dolores | Sorrows (from Our Lady of Sorrows) | Spanish |
| Della | Noble (short for Adela) | English |
| Dora | Gift | Greek |
| Dorothea | Gift of God | Greek |
| Delia | From the island of Delos; epithet of Artemis | Greek |
| Dinah | Judged, vindicated | Hebrew |
| Dottie | Nickname for Dorothy, “gift of God” | English |
| Donna | Lady | Italian |
| Darlene | Darling | English |
| Deborah | Bee | Hebrew |
| Diane | Divine | French (from Latin) |
| Dulcie | Sweet | Latin |
| Doreen | Possibly “sullen” (Irish) or “gift” (Greek) | Irish / Greek |
| Dollie | Nickname for Dorothy | English |
| Dorinda | Gift (literary coinage from Dorothea) | English / Spanish |
Elegant and romantic D names
Long, graceful D names with an old-world polish. Many are French or Italian. For more, see elegant girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Delphine | Dolphin; from Delphi | French (from Greek) |
| Dominique | Of the Lord | French (from Latin) |
| Daniella | God is my judge | Italian |
| Désirée | Desired | French |
| Delfina | Dolphin; from Delphi | Italian / Spanish |
| Donatella | Given (by God) | Italian |
| Davina | Beloved (feminine of David) | Scottish |
| Delphina | Of Delphi | Latin |
| Domenica | Belonging to the Lord; Sunday | Italian |
| Dorotea | Gift of God | Italian / Spanish |
| Diantha | Divine flower | Greek |
| Damaris | Calf, gentle (Acts 17:34) | Greek |
Unique girl names starting with D
Less common D names that are still easy to pronounce. Browse rare girl names for more hidden gems.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Dagny | New day | Old Norse |
| Dune | A hill of sand | English |
| Darcy | From Arcy (Norman place name); dark | Norman French / Irish |
| Deva | Divine, goddess | Sanskrit |
| Daria | Possesses goodness (feminine of Darius) | Persian |
| Davia | Beloved | Hebrew |
| Delta | Fourth letter of Greek alphabet; river mouth | Greek |
| Dessa | Wanderer (short for Odessa) | Greek |
| Drew | Manly, strong (from Andrew) | Greek / English |
| Dove | The bird of peace | English |
| Dior | Golden | French |
| Domino | Lord, master | Latin |
| Darby | Deer park | Old Norse / English |
| Dorian | Of Doris, a region of Greece | Greek |
Short and sweet D names
Short names with lots of personality — and ideal middle names. See more short girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Dee | Short for any D name; also Welsh “dark” | Welsh / English |
| Demi | Half; short for Demetria | French / Greek |
| Dani | God is my judge | Hebrew |
| Dot | Short for Dorothy | English |
| Dina | Judged (Hebrew); also Persian “religion” | Hebrew / Persian |
| Dara | Pearl of wisdom (Hebrew); oak (Irish) | Hebrew / Irish |
| Dalia | Branch (Hebrew); dahlia flower | Hebrew |
| Dua | Prayer | Arabic |
Nature-inspired D names
Blooms, birds and natural features that start with D. Explore flower names for girls for more botanical picks.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Dew | Morning moisture | English |
| Dawn | Daybreak | English |
| Dandelion | Lion’s tooth; the sunny wildflower | French |
| Dianthus | Flower of the gods; carnation family | Greek |
| Dusk | Twilight | English |
| Daylily | The daylily flower | English |
| Dahna | Red sand desert in Arabia | Arabic |
| Delphinium | Dolphin; the blue larkspur flower | Greek |
| Daffodil | The spring narcissus | English |
D names from around the world
International girl names starting with D, with pronunciation help where it’s not obvious.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Dagmar | Day maiden, glorious | Danish / Old Norse |
| Divya | Divine, heavenly | Sanskrit |
| Dalal | Pampered, coquettish | Arabic |
| Dana | Generous (Persian); from Denmark | Persian / English |
| Dorota | Gift of God | Polish |
| Dunya | World | Arabic / Russian |
| Daiyu | Black jade | Chinese |
| Deirdre | Possibly “sorrowful” (DEER-dra) | Irish |
| Dilnoza | Tender-hearted | Uzbek / Persian |
| Dziko | World | Nguni (Southern Africa) |
| Danica | Morning star | Slavic |
| Dhara | Earth; flow, stream | Sanskrit |
| Dagna | New day | Polish / Scandinavian |
| Dunja | Form of Dunya, “world”; also Serbian “quince” | Serbian / Croatian |
| Dorit | Generation | Hebrew |
Biblical and mythological D names
Heroines and goddesses beginning with D, from Hebrew scripture to Greek and Celtic myth. See biblical girl names and mythology girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Dorcas | Gazelle (Acts 9) | Greek |
| Drusilla | Fruitful, strong (Acts 24) | Latin |
| Danu | Mother goddess of Irish myth | Celtic |
| Demeter | Earth mother; goddess of harvest | Greek |
| Dione | Divine; Titaness, mother of Aphrodite in Homer | Greek |
| Dido | Legendary founding queen of Carthage | Phoenician |
| Danae | Mother of Perseus | Greek |
| Dryope | Woodpecker; a nymph turned into a poplar | Greek |
| Deianira | Man-destroyer; wife of Heracles | Greek |
| Durga | Invincible; Hindu warrior goddess | Sanskrit |
How to pick the perfect D name
- Balance hard and soft sounds. D is a firm consonant; names like Delilah or Daphne soften it with flowing endings, while Dagny or Dakota keep it strong.
- Check the meaning. A few D names carry darker meanings — Dolores means “sorrows,” Deirdre possibly “sorrowful.” Some parents love the history; others prefer to avoid it.
- Mind the initials. D with certain middle and last initials can spell D.U.M., D.O.A. or D.I.E.
- Pair vintage with modern. A retro first name like Dorothy sounds fresh with a modern middle name, and vice versa.
- Look beyond the letter. If you want the D sound in the middle, consider A names like Adelaide or Audrey.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl name that starts with D?
Delilah is currently the top D name for girls in the US by SSA data, followed by Daisy, Daniela, Daphne and Dakota.
What are vintage girl names that start with D?
Dorothy, Doris, Dolores, Della, Dora, Dinah and Dulcie are classic early-20th-century names that are slowly coming back.
What are unique girl names that start with D?
Dagny, Delphine, Dulcie, Davina, Dessa and Damaris are uncommon in the US but easy to say and spell.
What D girl name means “gift of God”?
Dorothy, Dorothea, Dorota and Dorotea all mean “gift of God,” from Greek doron (gift) and theos (god).
Is Dylan a girl’s name?
Dylan is mostly used for boys, but it has a steady following as a girls’ name in the US. It is Welsh and means “son of the sea.”