Currently three bona fide dendritic cell (DC) types are distinguished in human blood. Herein we focus on type 2 DCs (DC2s) and compare the three defining markers CD1c, CD172, and CD301. When using CD1c to define DC2s, a CD14 + and a CD14 − subset can be detected. The CD14 + subset shares features with monocytes, and this includes substantially higher expression levels for CD64, CD115, CD163, and S100A8/9. We review the current knowledge of these CD1c + CD14 + cells as compared to the CD1c + CD14 − cells with respect to phenotype, function, transcriptomics, and ontogeny. Here, we discuss informative mutations, which suggest that two populations have different developmental requirements. In addition, we cover subsets of CD11c + CD8 − DC2s in the mouse, where CLEC12A + ESAM low cells, as compared to the CLEC12A − ESAM high subset, also express higher levels of monocyte-associated markers CD14, CD3, and CD115. Finally, we summarize, for both man and mouse, the data on lower antigen presentation and higher cytokine production in the monocytemarker expressing DC2 subset, which demonstrate that the DC2 subsets are also functionally distinct.