Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth largest by area, and the third-most populous city in the area of former East Germany, after Berlin and Leipzig.
Meaning & Origin of Dresden
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Dresden is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth largest by area, and the third-most populous city in the area of former East Germany, after Berlin and Leipzig.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Dresden
As a girl name
Dresden first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1964, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 13 Dresdens were born — ranking #8,297 that year. As of 2026, Dresden ranks #8,297 for girls with 13 births, with steady use. In total, more than 183 Dresdens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Dresden first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1989, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2012, when 73 Dresdens were born — ranking #1,942 that year. As of 2026, Dresden ranks #4,728 for boys with 21 births, falling sharply (-30%). In total, more than 998 Dresdens 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 Dresden
Phonetically similar names — useful when Dresden 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 Dresden
What does the name Dresden mean?
How popular is Dresden in 2026?
When was Dresden most popular?
In which U.S. states is Dresden most popular?
Is Dresden a unisex name?
What names go well with Dresden?
About the name Dresden
Dresden is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1989 and has accumulated 998 births in the dataset. Dresden's peak popularity came in 2012 when it ranked #1,942. Use the chart and map above to compare Dresden's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2012 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- 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.