Dao
The Tao or Dao is the source and fundamental principle of the universe, primarily as conceived in East Asian philosophy and religions. The concept is represented by the Chinese character 道, which has meanings including 'way', 'path', 'road', and sometimes 'doctrine' or 'principle'.
Meaning & Origin of Dao
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The Tao or Dao is the source and fundamental principle of the universe, primarily as conceived in East Asian philosophy and religions. The concept is represented by the Chinese character 道, which has meanings including 'way', 'path', 'road', and sometimes 'doctrine' or 'principle'.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Dao
As a girl name
Dao first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1980, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1982, when 10 Daos were born — ranking #6,370 that year. As of 2026, Dao ranks #15,782 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 88 Daos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Dao first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1981, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1983, when 16 Daos were born — ranking #2,789 that year. As of 2026, Dao ranks #12,153 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 194 Daos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Dao
Phonetically similar names — useful when Dao 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 Dao
What does the name Dao mean?
How popular is Dao in 2026?
When was Dao most popular?
In which U.S. states is Dao most popular?
Is Dao a unisex name?
What names go well with Dao?
About the name Dao
Dao is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1981 and has accumulated 194 births in the dataset. Dao's peak popularity came in 1983 when it ranked #2,789. Use the chart and map above to compare Dao's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1983 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- 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.