Dakota
Borrowed from Dakota dakhóta (“ally”).
Every Dakota since 1915 — 134,576 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Dakota
Dakota is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #319 in 2025 with 1,074 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1915, 134,576 American babies have been named Dakota — about 69% boys and 31% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1995, when 7,700 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Dakota stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Dakota year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,035 | #296 | 1,074 | #319 |
| 2024 | 1,160 | #273 | 1,060 | #326 |
| 2023 | 1,191 | #262 | 1,017 | #328 |
| 2022 | 1,210 | #259 | 945 | #347 |
| 2021 | 1,163 | #270 | 958 | #340 |
| 2020 | 1,175 | #257 | 920 | #346 |
| 2019 | 1,269 | #259 | 973 | #344 |
| 2018 | 1,322 | #246 | 944 | #349 |
| 2017 | 1,362 | #231 | 1,000 | #340 |
| 2016 | 1,417 | #227 | 874 | #376 |
| 2015 | 1,334 | #242 | 943 | #356 |
| 2014 | 1,149 | #283 | 894 | #358 |
| 2013 | 1,089 | #293 | 905 | #350 |
| 2012 | 1,039 | #308 | 961 | #328 |
| 2011 | 1,068 | #294 | 1,031 | #312 |
| 2010 | 1,142 | #285 | 1,142 | #292 |
| 2009 | 1,198 | #274 | 1,387 | #251 |
| 2008 | 1,288 | #266 | 1,645 | #226 |
| 2007 | 1,486 | #239 | 1,962 | #202 |
| 2006 | 1,839 | #190 | 2,367 | #172 |
| 2005 | 1,515 | #225 | 2,722 | #148 |
| 2004 | 1,180 | #278 | 2,918 | #137 |
| 2003 | 917 | #340 | 3,160 | #126 |
| 2002 | 952 | #323 | 3,487 | #107 |
| 2001 | 943 | #330 | 3,980 | #93 |
| 2000 | 1,086 | #296 | 4,553 | #88 |
| 1995 | 1,125 | #252 | 6,575 | #56 |
| 1990 | 380 | #596 | 1,551 | #195 |
| 1985 | 62 | #1,815 | 109 | #869 |
| 1980 | 25 | #3,342 | 40 | #1,526 |
| 1975 | 12 | #4,912 | 14 | #2,780 |
| 1970 | — | — | 9 | #3,334 |
| 1965 | 9 | #4,564 | — | — |
| 1960 | 13 | #3,538 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | 8 | #3,193 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Dakota
- Dakota Johnson Actor · b. 1989
- Dakota Fanning Actor · b. 1994
- Dakota Blue Richards Actor · b. 1994
- Dakota Goyo Actor · b. 1999
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dakota mean?
Borrowed from Dakota dakhóta (“ally”).
How popular is the name Dakota in 2025?
Dakota ranked #319 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,074 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Dakota?
134,576 babies have been named Dakota in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Dakota most popular?
Dakota peaked in 1995, when 7,700 newborns received the name.
Is Dakota a boy or girl name?
Dakota is used for both: about 31% of babies named Dakota have been girls and 69% boys.
Is the name Dakota rising or falling?
Dakota is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Dakota?
Well-known people named Dakota include Dakota Johnson (actor), Dakota Fanning (actor), Dakota Blue Richards (actor).