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Devlin

Boy name · 104 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Devlin: 104 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 11 births in 2011.

Of Irish origin, Devlin is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Doibhilin, meaning "descendant of Doibhileán", a personal name thought to derive from "dobhail", meaning "unlucky" or "misfortune"—though this dark root hasn't dampened its modern appeal. The most famous bearer is Scottish actor Devlin Anderson, known for his television roles; the name also appears in fiction through Devlin, a resilient character in John le Carré's spy novels. Placewise, Devlin is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, sharing the same etymological root. Notably, Devlin can also be a surname, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and has seen occasional use as a first name since the late 20th century, with a steady but small presence in Scottish birth records.