Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Deacon

Deacon is a recently coined masculine given name, from the title for an ordained member of the Christian clergy, one who ranks beneath a priest or minister. The word ultimately comes from the Latin “diaconus” which was borrowed from the Greek διάκονος (diakonos) meaning “servant”. The role and qualifications of the deacon is outlined by Paul in one of his letters to Timothy: “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not devious in speech, not addicted to too much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain…husband of one wife, managing their children and households well.” [1 Timothy 3:8-12]. That’s a pretty tall order! As a forename, Deacon is primarily used in the United States, popularized by celebrities Reese Witherspoon and her then-husband Ryan Phillippe who named their son Deacon at the end of 2003. They named him after a distant relative of Ryan’s, baseball player "Deacon" Phillippe who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1900-1911). The baseball player was actually born Charles Louis Phillippe but acquired the nickname “Deacon” because, as a strict Lutheran, he refused to partake in the typical lifestyle choices of ball players on the road (drinking, gambling and women). Apparently, he behaved like a “Deacon”.

All About the Baby Name – Deacon

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME DEACON

Romance is the hallmark of the Six personality. They exude nurturing, loving, and caring energy. Sixes are in love with the idea of love in its idealized form - and with their magnetic personalities, they easily draw people toward them. Like the number Two personality, they seek balance and harmony in their life and the world at large. They are conscientious and service-oriented, and a champion for the underdog. These personalities naturally attract money and are usually surrounded by lovely material objects - but their human relationships are always primary. They thrive in giving back to others rather than being motivated by their own desires. This is when they achieve great things. Sixes are natural teachers, ministers and counselors.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME DEACON

Deacon made his debut on the American masculine naming charts in 2004, the year following the birth of Deacon Phillippe (Oct. 2003). Since Reese Witherspoon is an “A-lister” celebrity she has had a positive impact on the usage of her baby name choice for her own children (daughter is named Ava). Deacon immediately saw upwards momentum on the charts but has since settled to lower-moderation. This is not a super-popular name by any means, and with its clear church-related significance, Deacon is not for everyone. The Witherspoon/Phillppe duo did add some “Hollywood” cool currency to the name, but by and large most people regard Deacon as simply too religious for their own tastes. Declan is an alternative name choice for those who like the masculine, strong sounding Deacon but could do without the church connection. How ironic would it be if your little Deacon turned out to be a “bad boy”?

Quick Facts

ON DEACON

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

441

PRONUNCIATION:

DEE-kin

SIMPLE MEANING:

Servant

Characteristics

OF DEACON

Humanitarian

Community-minded

Family-oriented

Loving

Affectionate

Compassionate

Sensitive

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Deacon

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME DEACON

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Deacon

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME DEACON

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Deacon


Popular Songs

ON DEACON

Deacon Blues
a song by Steely Dan

Famous People

NAMED DEACON

David “Deacon” Jones (football player)
Charles Louis "Deacon" Phillippe (baseball player)
James Thomas "Deacon" McGuire (baseball player)
James Laurie "Deacon" White (baseball player)

Children of Famous People

NAMED DEACON

Reese Witherspoon;

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME DEACON

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Deacon