Last names that start with the letter D are stylish, meaningful, and full of personality. These surnames come from different cultures and countries around the world. Some sound bold and powerful, while others feel modern and elegant. Many families choose them to reflect heritage and identity.
In this collection, you will explore 300+ best last names that start with D. The list includes common, rare, and unique surname ideas. Some names have deep historical roots, while others are trending in modern naming styles. Each surname offers its own charm and character.
Why Choose a Last Name Beginning with D?
- Distinctive Sound – The letter D carries a bold, decisive phonetic punch that makes names instantly memorable
- Historical Depth – Many D surnames trace back to ancient noble families, dynasties, and distinguished lineages worldwide
- Cultural Versatility – D surnames exist across virtually every language and culture, from Spanish De la Cruz to Japanese Dazai
- Professional Impact – Names beginning with D often appear early in alphabetical listings, giving subtle career advantages
- Phonetic Strength – The hard D sound conveys confidence, authority, and determination in both spoken and written form
- Literary Legacy – Famous literary characters from Dickens to Dumas bear memorable D surnames that shaped storytelling
- Brand Appeal – D names work exceptionally well for personal branding, creative personas, and professional identities
- Easy Pronunciation – Most D surnames are intuitive to pronounce across multiple languages and accents
- Alphabetical Advantage – Being early in the alphabet means appearing first on lists, rosters, and professional directories
- Emotional Resonance – Words like Dawn, Dream, and Destiny share the D sound, giving these surnames an aspirational quality
Last Names Starting with D
- Dalton – From the valley town; English origin with strong rural roots
- Daniels – Son of Daniel; Hebrew meaning “God is my judge”
- Darby – From the deer park; Old English place name
- Darcy – From the fortress; Norman French aristocratic surname
- Davenport – From the town near the Dane River; English origin
- Davidson – Son of David; Scottish and English patronymic
- Davies – Son of David; Welsh form of the name
- Davis – Son of David; one of the most common English surnames
- Dawson – Son of Daw; medieval nickname for David
- Dean – Valley dweller; also an ecclesiastical title
- Delaney – Descendant of the challenger; Irish Gaelic heritage
- Dempsey – Proud or arrogant; Irish Gaelic origin
- Dennis – Follower of Dionysius; Greek god of wine
- Denton – From the valley town; English geographical name
- Derby – From the deer village; English place name
- Dermott – Free from envy; ancient Irish name
- Devlin – Fierce courage; Irish Gaelic surname
- Dickens – Son of Richard; immortalized by Charles Dickens
- Dickson – Son of Dick; variation of Richards
- Dillon – Like a lion; Irish and French origins
- Dixon – Son of Dick; Northern English patronymic
- Dobson – Son of Robert; medieval English variant
- Dodd – Round-headed; Old English nickname origin
- Dodson – Son of Dodd; English patronymic
- Donnelly – Descendant of the brown-haired warrior; Irish heritage
- Donovan – Dark warrior; Irish Gaelic origin
- Dorsey – From Orsay; French-American heritage
- Douglas – Dark river; Scottish clan name
- Downey – From the fort on the hill; Irish heritage
- Doyle – Dark foreigner; Irish Gaelic surname
- Drake – Dragon or male duck; Old English origin
- Drew – Strong one; Welsh and English origin
- Drummond – From the ridge; Scottish clan name
- Dudley – People’s meadow; English place name
- Duff – Dark-complexioned; Scottish and Irish Gaelic
- Duffy – Black peace; Irish Gaelic surname
- Duke – Leader; title-based English surname
- Duncan – Dark warrior; Scottish Gaelic origin
- Dunlap – Fort of the marsh; Scottish origin
- Dunn – Brown-complexioned; Irish and Scottish heritage
- Dunning – From the brown hill; English place name
- Dunstan – Dark stone; Anglo-Saxon saint’s name
- Dupont – From the bridge; French origin
- Dutton – From Dudda’s town; English place name
- Dwyer – Dark or swarthy one; Irish heritage
Hispanic Last Names That Start With D
- De la Cruz – Of the cross; deeply rooted in Catholic faith and devotion
- De la Fuente – Of the fountain or spring; natural water source connection
- De la Rosa – Of the rose; romantic and floral heritage
- De la Torre – Of the tower; defensive structure symbol
- De la Vega – Of the meadow; pastoral landscape reference
- De León – Of the lion; noble strength and courage
- De los Santos – Of the saints; intensely religious heritage
- Delgado – Slender or thin; physical characteristic surname
- Deloera – Of the era; period-based heritage
- Delvalle – Of the valley; geographical feature surname
- Díaz – Son of Diego; one of the most common Hispanic surnames
- Dominguez – Son of Dominic; Lord’s day association
- Donado – Donated one; religious gift symbolism
- Dorado – Golden; precious metal surname
- Doria – Gift; noble Italian-Hispanic heritage
- Dorantes – From Dorante; regional Hispanic origin
- Dueñas – Mistresses or owners; nobility reference
- Duque – Duke; aristocratic title surname
- Duran – Enduring; strong and lasting character
- Durán – Hardy and enduring; Basque-Hispanic origin
Spanish Last Names That Start With D
- Dalmau – From Dalmatia; Catalan-Spanish heritage
- Daza – From the hedge or boundary; territorial name
- De Aguilar – Of the eagle place; noble bird association
- De Armas – Of the weapons; warrior heritage
- De Castro – Of the castle or fort; defensive stronghold
- De Córdoba – From Córdoba; Andalusian city heritage
- De Dios – Of God; profoundly religious Spanish surname
- De Gracia – Of grace; divine elegance
- De Haro – From Haro; La Rioja region of Spain
- De Herrera – Of the ironworks; metalworker heritage
- De Lara – Of Lara; Castilian noble family name
- De Medina – Of Medina; central town reference
- De Molina – Of the mill; grain processing heritage
- De Mora – Of the mulberry tree; botanical origin
- De Murcia – From Murcia; southeastern Spain heritage
- De Palma – Of the palm tree; Mediterranean botanical
- De Paz – Of peace; harmonious character
- De Rivera – Of the riverbank; water’s edge dwelling
- De Rojas – Of the red oaks; forest heritage
- De Soto – Of the grove; woodland place name
- Desiderio – Desired one; Latin-Spanish origin
- Domingo – Sunday’s child; Lord’s day birth
- Doncel – Young squire; medieval aristocratic reference
- Doval – From the dovecote; dove keeper heritage
- Duarte – Wealthy guardian; Portuguese-Spanish crossover
Unique Last Names That Start With D
- Daggerwood – Sharp dark forest; mysterious and powerful
- Dalcourt – Valley court; French-English elegance
- Dalesworth – Valley settlement; distinctive English compound
- Dalloway – From Mrs Dalloway; literary and refined
- Dalonzo – Unique fusion name; creative modern origin
- Damaris – Gentle one; rare biblical-modern hybrid
- Danamere – Dan’s lake; invented elegant compound
- Danewood – Daniel’s forest; nature-literary blend
- Dawnhaven – Morning shelter; poetic and aspirational
- Dawnridge – Morning hillcrest; bright and hopeful
- Daythorn – Day’s thorn; contrasting elements
- Dazewood – Confused forest; mysterious character
- Decorum – Proper behavior; Latin virtue surname
- Deepmere – Deep lake; profound and mysterious
- Deerhart – Deer heart; gentle strength combination
- Delamorte – Of death; gothic elegance French origin
- Dellacross – Beautiful crossing; Italian-English hybrid
- Dellamore – Beautiful love; Italian-inspired romantic
- Dellatorre – Beautiful tower; Italian-English compound
- Dellwood – Dell forest; soft and natural
- Delphiné – Dolphin; French-inspired rare variant
- Delvigne – Of the vine; winemaking heritage
- Demarais – Of the marsh; French naturalist heritage
- Denbrook – Valley brook; geographic descriptor
- Denforth – Valley ford; crossing point name
- Denholt – Valley grove; wooded valley
- Denmare – Valley lake; Scandinavian-English blend
- Denvale – Valley of the valley; doubled landscape
- Devereaux – From Evreux; Norman noble heritage
- Devonmere – Devon lake; West Country English
- Dewpoint – Atmospheric measurement; meteorological
- Diamondcroft – Precious stone field; valuable land
- Dovelight – Dove’s glow; peaceful luminescence
- Dragonwood – Dragon’s forest; fantasy heritage
- Dreadmoor – Fearful wasteland; gothic atmosphere
- Driftwood – Floating timber; oceanic wanderer
- Dukeswood – Duke’s forest; aristocratic nature
- Dunhollow – Dark hollow; mysterious landscape
- Duskfell – Evening fell; Northern English atmospheric
- Dustmoore – Dusty moor; wild desolate landscape
Japanese Last Names That Start With D
Traditional Japanese surnames beginning with “D” that reflect cultural heritage, geographical features, and historical significance
- Daigo (醍醐) – meaning “ghee” or “refined butter,” associated with Buddhist concepts
- Daito (大東) – meaning “great east,” referring to eastern geographical locations
- Danno (団野) – meaning “group field,” suggesting communal or collective land
- Date (伊達) – meaning “showy” or “elegant,” a famous samurai clan from Sendai
- Deguchi (出口) – meaning “exit,” indicating families living near gates or passageways
- Doi (土井) – meaning “earth well,” referring to earthen wells or clay pits
- Doihara (土井原) – meaning “earth well plain,” combining geographical features
- Doke (土気) – meaning “earth spirit” or “earthen energy”
- Domoto (堂本) – meaning “temple origin” or “hall base,” indicating connection to religious buildings
- Domen (土門) – meaning “earth gate,” suggesting entrance to earthen structures
- Dono (殿) – meaning “lord” or “master,” an honorific title turned surname
- Dosaka (堂坂) – meaning “temple slope,” indicating proximity to religious sites on hills
- Dote (土手) – meaning “embankment” or “levee,” referring to families living near flood barriers
- Douchi (堂内) – meaning “inside the temple” or “within the hall”
- Daikoku (大黒) – meaning “great black,” often associated with the god of wealth
- Daijima (大島) – meaning “large island,” though more commonly spelled Oshima
- Daiki (大木) – meaning “large tree,” indicating families near notable trees
- Dainichi (大日) – meaning “great sun,” associated with Buddhist deities
- Daisho (大正) – meaning “great righteousness” or era name
- Dakeyama (嶽山) – meaning “peak mountain,” referring to mountainous terrain
- Damura (田村) – alternative reading meaning “rice field village”
- Danbara (段原) – meaning “stepped field” or “terraced plain”
- Danchi (団地) – meaning “housing complex” or “communal land”
- Danjo (檀上) – meaning “on the platform” or “altar top”
- Danna (旦那) – meaning “master” or “patron,” typically used as honorific
- Danshaku (男爵) – meaning “baron,” a noble title
- Dazai (太宰) – meaning “senior assistant governor,” a historical official position
- Denpo (伝法) – meaning “transmit the law,” Buddhist terminology
- Denshichi (伝七) – meaning “transmit seven,” possibly indicating lineage
- Dewaki (出脇) – meaning “exit side,” geographical positioning
- Dobashi (土橋) – meaning “earth bridge,” referring to earthen bridge structures
- Dobayashi (土林) – meaning “earth forest,” combining natural elements
- Dogen (道元) – meaning “way origin,” famous Zen Buddhist founder’s name
- Dohara (堂原) – meaning “temple plain,” open land near religious sites
- Dohi (土肥) – meaning “earth fertilizer” or “rich soil”
- Dohke (土方) – meaning “earth direction” or “earthworks”
- Doki (土岐) – meaning “earth bank,” a notable samurai clan
- Dokura (土倉) – meaning “earth warehouse” or “earthen storehouse”
- Domae (堂前) – meaning “in front of the temple”
- Domeki (百目鬼) – unusual name meaning “hundred-eyed demon”
- Domichi (堂道) – meaning “temple path” or “hall way”
- Domoto (百本) – meaning “hundred origins” or “hundred trees”
- Donaka (堂中) – meaning “inside the hall” or “temple interior”
- Donari (怒鳴) – meaning “roar” or “shout”
- Donishi (堂西) – meaning “temple west,” directional location
- Donoue (堂上) – meaning “above the hall,” elevated temple position
Irish Last Names That Start With D
- Daly – Descendant of the assembly man; Gaelic heritage
- Darcy – Dark one; Anglo-Norman Irish adoption
- Darragh – Oak tree; deeply Celtic and naturalistic
- Davitt – Son of David; Gaelic-influenced patronymic
- Deasy – From Desmond; southern Ireland heritage
- Delaney – Descendant of the challenger; bold Irish spirit
- Dennehy – From the brown fortress; Cork heritage
- Dermody – Son of Diarmuid; free of envy
- Devane – Of the ox; Connacht province origin
- Devereaux – From Evreux in Normandy; Anglo-Irish gentry
- Devitt – Son of David; Ulster Irish heritage
- Devlin – Fierce valor; warrior spirit
- Dillon – Like a lion; Norman-Irish nobility
- Dineen – Little fortress; Munster county origin
- Doherty – Harmful to the enemy; warrior identity
- Dolan – Black defiance; Ulster-Connacht border name
- Donnellan – Descendant of the brown warrior; Galway origin
- Donnelly – Dark valor; ancient Tyrone clan
- Donoghue – Dark warrior; Kerry and Galway heritage
- Donohoe – Brown battle warrior; ancient Irish spirit
- Donovan – Dark warrior; Cork and Limerick heritage
- Dorgan – Descendant of Dearg; red-haired ancestry
- Dowling – Descendant of the proud one; Leinster heritage
- Downey – From the fort on the brown river; Munster origin
- Doyle – Dark foreigner; one of Ireland’s most common surnames
- Driscoll – Intermediary; Cork and Kerry heritage
- Drumm – Ridge; Ulster hill-country name
- Duffy – Black peace; one of the most common Irish names
- Duignan – Descendant of Dubhgeann; dark-headed ancestry
- Dunne – Brown-complexioned; Leinster clan heritage
Italian Last Names That Start With D
- D’Agostino – Of Augustine; August birth month reference
- D’Aleo – Of the olive tree; Mediterranean heritage
- D’Amato – Of the beloved; loving family origin
- D’Ambrosio – Of Ambrose; immortal divine origin
- D’Amelio – Of Amelio; industrious heritage
- D’Angelo – Of the angel; heavenly divine messenger
- D’Anna – Of Anna; grace and favor
- D’Antonio – Of Anthony; priceless heritage
- Da Vinci – From Vinci; immortalized by Leonardo
- Dall’Aglio – From the garlic field; agricultural heritage
- Daloisio – Of Aloysius; noble warrior
- Damato – Beloved one; Southern Italian heritage
- Damiani – Of Damian; to tame or subdue
- Dandolo – Old Venetian noble family; historic heritage
- Daniele – Of Daniel; God is my judge
- De Angelis – Of the angels; Roman spiritual heritage
- De Bernardis – Of Bernard; brave bear warrior
- De Carlo – Of Charles; free man heritage
- De Cesare – Of Caesar; imperial Roman legacy
- De Falco – Of the falcon; swift hunter heritage
- De Ferrari – Of the ironworker; metalcraft heritage
- De Filippo – Of Philip; horse lover heritage
- De Gennaro – Of January; winter birth reference
- De Laurentis – Of Lawrence; laurel-crowned honor
- De Luca – Of Luke; light-bringer heritage
- De Marco – Of Mark; warlike heritage
- De Martino – Of Martin; warrior of Mars
- De Rosa – Of the rose; romantic floral heritage
- De Santis – Of the saints; deeply religious heritage
- Dellatorre – Of the tower; defensive stronghold
- Di Benedetto – Of Benedict; blessed heritage
- Di Lorenzo – Of Lawrence; laurel-crowned one
- Di Maggio – Of May; spring birth connection
- Di Stefano – Of Stephen; crowned martyr heritage
- Donati – Donated or given; Florentine noble family
- Donatello – Little gift; immortalized by Renaissance sculptor
- Donato – Given by God; religious gift heritage
- Durante – Enduring; immortalized by poet Dante Alighieri
- Duro – Hard or enduring; Southern Italian strength
Frequently Asked Question
What are some popular last names that start with D?
Popular last names that start with D include Davis, Diaz, Dawson, Douglas, and Daniels.
Are there rare last names that start with D?
Yes, rare last names that start with D include Delacroix, Draven, Dunsmore, and Dellinger.
Which last names that start with D sound strong?
Strong last names that start with D include Drake, Dalton, Donovan, and Dempsey.
What are unique last names that start with D?
Unique last names that start with D include Darkwood, Daxton, Drexel, and Dovetail.
Are there American last names that start with D?
Yes, common American last names that start with D are Davis, Douglas, Daniels, and Dixon.
Are there European last names that start with D?
Many European last names that start with D include Dubois, DeLuca, D’Angelo, and Durand.
What last names that start with D are good for stories?
For stories, last names that start with D like Draven, Darkmoor, Dorian, and Dunhill work well.
Can I use last names that start with D for a baby name?
Yes, many parents choose last names that start with D as middle or family names for babies.
Do last names that start with D have meanings?
Most last names that start with D have meanings linked to places, jobs, or family ancestry.
Why are last names that start with D so popular?
Last names that start with D are popular because they are easy to pronounce and sound strong.
Conclusion
Last names that start with D offer many beautiful and meaningful choices. They include classic, modern, and unique surname styles. Each last name has its own history and background. This makes choosing a D last name more special and exciting.
With 300+ best last names that start with D, finding the right surname becomes easier. These names work well for families, stories, and personal use. You can select a name that matches your personality and taste. We hope this list helps you discover the perfect last name.
