Dempsey
How to say it: DEMP-see · /ˈdɛmpsi/
From Irish surname O Diomasaigh meaning 'proud' - used as unisex first name from surname trend.
Dempsey was the 2,333rd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 85 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are down about 21% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #2,687 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #2,333 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 85 |
| Share of births | 1 in 39,004 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | −21% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #2,687 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Dempsey peaked in the 1920s, nearly vanished by the 1980s, and has come back.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Dempsey is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Irish.
Famous people named Dempsey
- Dempsey Wilson (1927–1971)Racing driver
- Dempsey Bryk (born 1996)Actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Dempsey
Find names you'll both love, starting with Dempsey
The one-minute style quiz.