Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is Deon ok for a baby boy??

41 replies

LouisaB1990 · 09/05/2015 16:36

I love this name I really want to use it but I'm worried its silly.
He will be biracial & we are thinking Deon James

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
AwayAndRunUpMaHumf · 11/05/2015 13:16

It makes me think of Dion Dublin. its nice, and not too out there.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 11/05/2015 12:40

Deion is a really popular welsh boys name.

I love Dante though.

IvoryMadonna · 11/05/2015 12:27

Those distinctions are way too fine to trouble me. Any name can sound awful in the wrong accent.

JessieMcJessie · 11/05/2015 12:22

Ivory, the RP pronounciation of the name is "Dantay", with a short "a" and the end sounding like stay, play, day etc. The Italian has a shorter "e" sound of course. What I am envisaging is the Northern nasal heavily-accented way of saying "ay" - think of the Gallagher brothers saying "Andy" for example.

It's a very snobbish point Blush.

hobNong · 11/05/2015 12:19

I've known a male Dion and a female Dionne. I think it's a lovely name for both sexes. I do prefer the spelling Dion but probably because I've never seen it as Deon before now.

DuncanQuagmire · 11/05/2015 12:17

Dante would be fine in any accent. Bit pretentious though n'est pas?

IvoryMadonna · 11/05/2015 12:15

Dant-eh is correct, surely, unless I'm misunderstanding the 'eh'. I would say Dant-ay, isn't that the same? It's Italian in origin, so Dant-ee would sound wrong to me.

JessieMcJessie · 11/05/2015 07:05

If you are from the North the pronounciation of "Dante" might be a bit weird i.e Dant-eh, (think Trac-eh Barlow...). Deon avoids that problem.

Variousrandomthings · 11/05/2015 04:21

There's also Devon

Snowflake15 · 10/05/2015 22:13

I love Deon... Adding that to my list for DSSmile

MamaLazarou · 10/05/2015 22:10

Deon is lovely.

SoldierBear · 10/05/2015 11:59

Nice name.
I prefer Dion though.

PeskyRat · 10/05/2015 11:56

oops, forgot to add I definitely think of a boys name when I see/hear it.

Dionne to me would be the girls equivalent.

PeskyRat · 10/05/2015 11:54

I love it, and spelled that way too.

I know bi-racial twin boys, think they're around 16 years old now, one called Rio, the other Deon.

I associate that name with them, and they are gorgeous boys.

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 09/05/2015 23:28

A quick google shows that both Deon and Dion are accepted spellings for a boy. The girl's version would be Dionne

I wouldn't bother too much about opinions of family/friends. They'll soon learn to love it Wink

marilyntaylor · 09/05/2015 20:41

The only Deon I know is a boy and we live in the North West. I've known him so long that I couldn't imagine it as a girl's name.

spiderlight · 09/05/2015 20:36

I like Deon - I might suspect that Dion was a girl but with an 'e' it's more masculine, and Deon James flows really well.

MaraThonbar · 09/05/2015 19:57

I've encountered a couple of teenage Deons whilst teaching on London.

IvoryMadonna · 09/05/2015 18:43

There was a (male) pop singer called Dion in the 1950s/60s. Dion and the Belmonts.

I think it's a very cool name, and unusual too. The only other one I can think of is Dion Dublin (and possibly another footballer with the Deon spelling? not sure).

I wouldn't worry about Dionne, the spellings make it clear whether male or female. Dionne is not a very common name either. Besides DW, I can only think of Dionne Bromfield.

nooka · 09/05/2015 18:18

Dante is a very cool name.

badtime · 09/05/2015 18:01

If you do go for Dante, please pronounce it 'Dan-tay' rather than 'Don-tay'!

Deon is fine (although I prefer the Dion spelling), and it looks like a boys name.

Original poster
LouisaB1990 · 09/05/2015 17:30

Lol I was thinking Dione warick too lol I'm only 27 though but it keeps popping in my head I adore the name Dante. My OH doesn't like it but I think it's very strong & masculine. I might try again on him haha

OP posts:
SkodaLabia · 09/05/2015 17:25

I think us old gimmers may be thinking Dionne Warwick. Wasn't there also Dion Dublin, a football player?

I like either spelling if neither are made up! I love Leon, and Dante. I know you didn't ask for suggestions. Grin

Original poster
LouisaB1990 · 09/05/2015 17:25

Can I ask where you are from?

OP posts:
icklekid · 09/05/2015 17:23

I know a gorgeous little boy called Deon and prefer that spelling. go for it!