Devlin

Devlin comes from the Irish surname Ó Doibhilin, meaning descendant of Doibhilin. The older personal name may be connected with a word meaning unlucky, although that derivation is uncertain. The surname history is therefore a firmer foundation than a single positive or negative English gloss.

As a first name, Devlin can preserve an Irish family surname or simply carry that established surname style. Its resemblance to Devin does not make the two names identical in origin, and the word devil is only a coincidence of English spelling. For a family choosing Devlin as an inherited name, the people and history attached to it may matter far more than the disputed ancient root. The compact spelling and familiar ending make the surname usable as a complete given name.