Boy · #8,287 in 2026

Dragon

A dragon is a mythical creature found in the folklore of cultures throughout the world. It is roughly serpentine in form, and often possesses features drawn from different animals, such as wings and claws. In nearly all cultures, it is conceived of as a powerful and awe-inspiring creature.

Current Rank
#8,287
Peak Rank
#4,130 (2012)
Total Babies
154
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1988
First Year
2024
Last Year
2012
Peak Year
#4130
Peak Rank
154
Total Count
17
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Dragon

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A dragon is a mythical creature found in the folklore of cultures throughout the world. It is roughly serpentine in form, and often possesses features drawn from different animals, such as wings and claws. In nearly all cultures, it is conceived of as a powerful and awe-inspiring creature.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
An early appearance of the Old English word dracan ( oblique singular of draca ) in Beowulf The word dragon entered the English language in the early 13th century from Old French dragon , which, in turn, comes from Latin draco (genitive draconis ), meaning "huge serpent, dragon", from Ancient Greek : δράκων , drákōn (genitive δράκοντος , drákontos ) "serpent". The Greek and Latin term referred to any great serpent, not necessarily mythological. The Greek word δράκων is most likely derived from the Greek verb δέρκομαι ( dérkomai ) meaning "I see", the aorist form of which is ἔδρακον ( édrakon )

The Story of Dragon

Dragon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1988, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2012, when 24 Dragons were born — ranking #4,130 that year. As of 2026, Dragon ranks #8,287 for baby boys with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 154 Dragons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Dragon

Phonetically similar names — useful when Dragon 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 Dragon

What does the name Dragon mean?
A dragon is a mythical creature found in the folklore of cultures throughout the world. It is roughly serpentine in form, and often possesses features drawn from different animals, such as wings and claws. In nearly all cultures, it is conceived of as a powerful and awe-inspiring creature.
How popular is Dragon in 2026?
In 2026, Dragon ranks #8,287 among boys' names in the U.S., with 9 babies given the name that year.
When was Dragon most popular?
Dragon reached its peak popularity in 2012, ranking #4,130 that year with 24 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Dragon most popular?
Dragon has historically been most popular in Texas, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Dragon.
Is Dragon a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Dragon is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Dragon?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Dragon include Ala, Kelwin, Janette. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Ala
Peak #4130
👦
Kelwin
Peak #4130
👦
Janette
Peak #4130
👦
Raed
Peak #4130
👦
Icholas
Peak #4130
👦
Krystle
Peak #4130
👦
Jorda
Peak #4130
👦
Cristal
Peak #4130

About the name Dragon

Dragon is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1988 and has accumulated 154 births in the dataset. Dragon's peak popularity came in 2012 when it ranked #4,130. Use the chart and map above to compare Dragon's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.