Dacota
Oranjestad, the capital and most populous of Aruba's eight regions, is located on the southwestern coast of the island. In Papiamento, the local language, Oranjestad is commonly referred to as "Playa" by the locals.
Meaning & Origin of Dacota
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Oranjestad, the capital and most populous of Aruba's eight regions, is located on the southwestern coast of the island. In Papiamento, the local language, Oranjestad is commonly referred to as "Playa" by the locals.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Dacota
As a girl name
Dacota first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1990, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2003, when 14 Dacotas were born — ranking #7,579 that year. As of 2026, Dacota ranks #14,119 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 188 Dacotas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Dacota first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1988, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1997, when 40 Dacotas were born — ranking #2,164 that year. As of 2026, Dacota ranks #9,821 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 491 Dacotas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Dacota
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Dave Benton , winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 for Estonia
- Xander Bogaerts , baseball player, two-time World Series champion
- Bobby Farrell , singer, Boney M
- Vince Irie , singer-songwriter
- Chadwick Tromp , baseball player, Atlanta Braves
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Dacota
Phonetically similar names — useful when Dacota is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dacota
What does the name Dacota mean?
How popular is Dacota in 2026?
When was Dacota most popular?
In which U.S. states is Dacota most popular?
Is Dacota a unisex name?
What names go well with Dacota?
About the name Dacota
Dacota is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1988 and has accumulated 491 births in the dataset. Dacota's peak popularity came in 1997 when it ranked #2,164. Use the chart and map above to compare Dacota's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1997 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.