Cyprian m.
From the Latin Cyprianus, meaning ‘from Cyprus’. It was the name of a Christian martyr of the 3rd century.
Cyra see Cyrus
Cyril m.
From the Greek kyrios, meaning ‘lord’. There were two saints of this name in the 4th and 5th centuries, and it was a 9th-century Saint Cyril who took Christianity to the Slavs, and devised the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. The name was first used in England in the 17th century, but did not become common until the 19th century. The name shares the abbreviation Cy with CYRUS, and has been recorded spelt Syril. There is a rare feminine form Cyrilla.
Cyrus m.
A Greek form of the Persian word meaning ‘sun’ or ‘throne’. This is the name of the founder of the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC, as well as a number of other Persian kings. It was first used in Britain in the 17th century among Puritans, probably in honour of the fact that the Emperor Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Palestine from their Babylonian captivity. They took it to North America, where the short forms are Cy and Cyro. There is a feminine form, Cyra.
D
Dafydd, Dai see David
Daisy f.
This probably started out as a 19th-century pet name for MARGARET, a pun on marguerite, the French word for daisy. However, there is no reason why it should not have come into use as a simple flower name, and few people today would use it otherwise.
Daithi see David
Dakota f. and m.
The name of this American Indian nation is now being regularly used in the USA. Its use can be compared to that of CHEYENNE.
Dale f. and m.
The Old English for ‘valley’. At first more common as a girl’s name, it is now more frequently used for boys. There are a number of other surnames from place names starting with the same sound, such as Dalton, Dallas and Dallin, that may owe their use as boys’ names to the popularity of Dale.
Damaris f.
The Greek name in the New Testament of an Athenian woman converted by St Paul. This led to its adoption by Puritans in the 17th century. It is probably a form of a Greek name meaning ‘heifer’.
Damhnait see Devnet
Damian, Damien m.
From the Greek, meaning ‘tamer’. There have been four saints called by this name. It was little used in the UK before the 20th century, but became popular in the 1970s.
Damon m.
From the Greek, meaning ‘to rule’ or ‘guide’. In Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were inseparable friends, famous for their willingness to die for each other.
Dan see Daniel
Dana f. and m.
As a boy’s name this comes from the surname, the Old English word for a Dane, and is sometimes found in the form Dane. The female name is either a Scandinavian girl’s form of DANIEL, or, in Ireland, can be taken from the pagan fertility goddess, Dana or Ana.
Dandy see Andrew
Daniel m., Danielle f.
Daniel, meaning ‘God has judged’, is the Hebrew name of an Old Testament prophet. It was found in England before the Norman Conquest, but only among priests and monks. It became more widespread in the 13th and 14th centuries. In Ireland and Wales it is often found as a version of the Irish Domhnall (see DONALD) and Welsh Deiniol, meaning ‘attractive, charming’. Its shortened forms are Dan and Danny. For girls, Danielle is the most common form, but Daniel(l)a and Danette are also used.
Dante see Donte
Daphne f.
From the Greek for ‘bay tree, laurel’. In classical mythology, it was the name of a nymph who the god Apollo loved. She called on the gods for help to escape his attentions, and was changed by them into a laurel. The name was a traditional name for dogs until the end of the 19th century, when it became quite common as a girl’s name.
Dara f. and m.
This is an Irish name, a shortened form of Mac Dara ‘son of the oak’, the name of a popular Connemara saint. It is also spelt Darragh. Although traditionally a masculine name, it is now also used for girls.
Darcy f. and m.
Darcy can be either from a French surname meaning someone from a place called Arcy, hence the form d’Arcy, or an Irish surname meaning ‘descendant of the dark one’. For girls it often takes the form Darcey or Darci(e).
Daria f., Darius m.
Darius was the name of the 6th-century BC king of the Persians who was defeated by the Athenians at Marathon. The name means ‘protector’. Daria is the feminine form.
Darian, Darien see Dorian
Darlene f.
This appears to be a relatively modern invention, made up of the first syllable of one of the names beginning ‘Dar-’, or perhaps from ‘darling’, with the -ene ending that is popular with newly created names such as CHARLENE and Raelene.
Darrel(l) f. and m.
Also spelt Dar(r)yl, this is another surname used as a first name. In this case the surname comes from a French village, the village name meaning ‘courtyard, open space’. Originally mainly a boy’s name, its spread as a girl’s name may owe something to Enid Blyton’s use of her second husband’s surname, Darrell, for the heroine of her Malory Towers school stories.
Darren m.
A surname of unknown meaning used as a first name. It seems to have been introduced in the 1950s and become popular in the 1960s. Darran is also found.
Darshan m.
An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘to see’. Darshan refers to being in the presence of, or being near enough to touch and see with one’s own eyes, a holy or revered person. It is thought to bestow spiritual enrichment on the observer.
Dashia, Dasia see Deja
Dashiell m.
The American detective novelist Dashiell Hammet (1894–1960), best known for The Maltese Falcon, first brought the name to public attention. He was named from his mother’s surname. As well as being a noted writer he was something of a hero of the left, having gone to prison rather than testify during McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts. The name has been used quietly ever since, and has been used by a number of celebrities, including Cate Blanchett and Alice Cooper.
David m.
The Hebrew name of the second king of Israel in the Old Testament, meaning ‘beloved’. This name absorbed the Celtic Daithi, meaning ‘nimbleness’ (the ‘th’ is pronounced ‘h’), and became very popular in Wales and Scotland.
