Dagon Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAY-gon //ˈdeɪɡɒn//
Origin: Hebrew; Canaanite
Meaning: Hebrew: grain; Canaanite: god of fertility and agriculture
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dagon has its roots in ancient Semitic languages, specifically deriving from the Hebrew word "dag," which means "fish." This etymology suggests a connection to fertility and agriculture, as Dagon was often associated with grain and the harvest in various cultures. The name appears in the context of ancient Near Eastern religions, particularly among the Philistines, where Dagon was worshiped as a major deity.
The transition of the name into English occurred through biblical translations, notably the King James Bible in the early 17th century, which referenced Dagon in the context of the Philistine god, thus introducing the name into the English lexicon. Historically, Dagon is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the Book of Judges and the First Book of Samuel, where he is depicted as a rival to the God of Israel.
The narrative describes how the Ark of the Covenant was placed in the temple of Dagon, leading to the deity's downfall when the statue of Dagon fell and was found broken. This biblical account, dating back to the 10th century BCE, highlights the cultural significance of Dagon within the context of ancient Israelite religion and its interactions with neighboring cultures.
Culturally, Dagon symbolizes the tension between polytheistic worship and monotheism, serving as a representation of the challenges faced by the Israelites in maintaining their faith amidst surrounding pagan practices. The name has endured through various historical periods, often evoking themes of conflict and divine supremacy.
While diminutive forms or variations of the name are not prominently noted, the historical resonance of Dagon as a figure of worship and a symbol of agricultural abundance has contributed to its lasting significance in the study of ancient religions and biblical history.
Fictional characters named Dagon
The following list of fictional characters named Dagon is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Dagon is a fictional character from the short story 'Dagon' by H.P. Lovecraft. He is a monstrous sea deity worshipped by a cult in a nightmarish underwater city.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dagon, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Dagon. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Dagon was first seen in the United States in 1996.
Dagon has ranked as high as #1378 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Dagon has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Dagon is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Dagon was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Dagon
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Dagon.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 1998 | 8 |
| 1996 | 5 |