Dustin
Meaning of Dustin
Rooted in the Old Norse þorsteinn (“Thor’s stone”), filtered through the medieval English Dustan, and eventually standardised as Dustin, the name pairs mythic heft with Anglo-American accessibility. Pronounced /ˈdʌs.tɪn/ in most English dialects, it reached peak U.S. popularity in 1985 at rank 41, buoyed in part by the cinematic prominence of Dustin Hoffman; since then its trajectory has declined in a predictable logarithmic curve, landing near rank 569 with roughly 400 births in 2024—enough to stay visible without courting trend fatigue. The two-syllable, consonant-rich structure discourages diminutives, a feature some parents value for administrative clarity. Cultural references now span from Stranger Things’ quick-witted Dustin Henderson to a roster of professional athletes, giving the name an intersection of intellectual and athletic associations. Overall, Dustin functions as a stable mid-century choice: modern enough to avoid antique overtones, yet sufficiently familiar to pass the résumé test without raising an eyebrow.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as DUHS-tin (/ˈdʊst.n̩/)
British English
- Pronunced as DUHS-tin (/ˈdʌs.tɪn/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Dustin
| Dustin Lee Hoffman is an award-winning American actor celebrated for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters in New Hollywood. |
| Dustin Poirier is a former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion celebrated as one of the greatest lightweights and holds the record for most KO/TKO wins. |
| Dustin Moskovitz co-founded Facebook and later Asana, becoming a billionaire entrepreneur. |
| Dustin May is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, having previously won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. |
| Dustin Lynch is an American country music star with nine number-one singles on the Country Airplay chart. |
| Dustin Jeffrey is a Canadian former NHL center who was drafted 171st overall by the Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. |
| Dustin Stoltzfus is an American mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who competes in the UFC's middleweight division. |
| Dustin Wells is an Australian footballer playing for Belconnen United in the National Premier Leagues. |
| Dustin Kendall Keller is a former NFL tight end who was drafted in the first round by the New York Jets in 2008 after playing college football for Purdue. |
| Dustin Boyer is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his long-term collaboration with John Cale and work with various other artists. |
| Former American soccer player Dustin Swinehart, who spent most of his career with the Charlotte Eagles, became the Director of Community Relations for Charlotte FC in January 2020. |
| American writer and producer Dustin Thomason co-authored the New York Times bestselling novel The Rule of Four with Ian Caldwell. |
| Dustin Wood was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. |
| Dustin Kerns is the head coach of the Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team. |
| Dustin Roberts served as an Oklahoma House representative for the 21st district from 2010 to 2022. |
