Dakota
Dakota is a unisex given name derived from the name of the Native American Dakota people. The name is translated to mean "friend", "friendly" or "allies" in the Yankton-Yanktonai and Santee dialects of the Dakota language.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Dakota
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Dakota is a unisex given name derived from the name of the Native American Dakota people. The name is translated to mean "friend", "friendly" or "allies" in the Yankton-Yanktonai and Santee dialects of the Dakota language.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Dakota
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Dakota as a girl name dates back to 1915, when 8 babies received it. 2006 was its biggest year on record, with 1,839 newborns named Dakota — #190 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 29% of all recorded Dakotas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #275 among girl names with 1,170 births, gradually falling (-6%). In total, more than 43K Dakotas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Dakota first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1966, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1995: 6,575 births, good for #56 nationwide. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 50% of all recorded Dakotas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #322 among boy names with 1,070 births, gradually rising (+7%). In total, more than 94K Dakotas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Dakota
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Dakota Abberton , Australian surfer
- Dakota Allen (born 1995), American football player
- Dakota Cox (born 1994), American football player
- Dakota Darsow (born 1987), American professional wrestler
- Dakota Daulby (born 1994), Canadian actor
- Dakota Fanning (born 1994), American actress
- Dakota Floeter (born 1994), American actor and musician
- Dakota Goyo (born 1999), Canadian actor
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Dakota
Phonetically similar names — useful when Dakota is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Dakotas
- Ducote
- Dakotan
- Dicta
- Decoteau
- Ducati
- Ducat
- Duckett
- Ducats
- Docta
- Dacosta
- Duquette
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dakota
What does the name Dakota mean?
What is the origin of the name Dakota?
How popular is Dakota in 2026?
When was Dakota most popular?
In which U.S. states is Dakota most popular?
Is Dakota a unisex name?
What names go well with Dakota?
About the name Dakota
Dakota is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1966 and has accumulated 94K births in the dataset. Dakota's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #56. Use the chart and map above to compare Dakota's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1995 →
- 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.