Dawn Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: dawn //dɔːn//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: the first appearance of light; Latin: dawn
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dawn originates from the Old English word "dæge," which means "day" or "daylight." This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "dagaz," which also relates to the concept of day. The transition into the modern English form occurred through various linguistic evolutions, including influences from Old Norse and Middle English, where the term began to take on a more specific meaning related to the first light of day.
The name Dawn, as a given name, began to be used in English-speaking cultures in the 20th century, reflecting a broader trend of using nature-inspired names. Historically, the concept of dawn has been significant in various cultures, often symbolizing new beginnings, hope, and renewal.
In literature and art, dawn has frequently been depicted as a time of transformation and awakening. The association of dawn with light and clarity can be traced back to ancient mythologies, where deities representing dawn, such as the Greek Eos and the Roman Aurora, were celebrated in poetry and religious practices.
These figures often embodied the transition from night to day, reinforcing the symbolic importance of dawn in human experience. In Christian tradition, dawn is often linked to themes of resurrection and enlightenment, as seen in hymns and religious texts that celebrate the arrival of light after darkness.
The name Dawn may also resonate with the idea of divine illumination, reflecting a spiritual awakening. Although diminutive forms of the name are less common, variations such as "Dawnie" have emerged informally.
Overall, the name Dawn encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic roots and cultural significance, representing both a literal and metaphorical light in human history.
Famous people named Dawn
In this section, you will find notable people named Dawn. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Dawn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Dawn who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Dawn French is a comedian and actress best known for The Vicar of Dibley, French and Saunders, and The Mighty Boosh.
Dawn Wells is an actress best known for Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, and The New Adventures of Old Christine.
Dawn Richard is a singer and songwriter best known for her work with Danity Kane, Diddy – Dirty Money, and her solo albums.
Dawn O'Porter is a writer and television presenter best known for This Old Thing, My Last Supper, and her novels.
Fictional characters named Dawn
The following list of fictional characters named Dawn 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.
Dawn is a fictional character from the Pokémon anime series. She is a Pokémon Coordinator who travels with Ash and participates in various contests.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dawn, 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 Dawn. 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 Dawn was first seen in the United States in 1888.
Dawn has ranked as high as #42 nationally, which occurred in 1970, and has been most popular in New York, Michigan, Illinois, California, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Dawn has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Dawn 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 Dawn was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Dawn (2024)
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.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 17 | |
| TX | 12 | |
| IL | 9 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| GA | 7 | |
| OH | 5 | |
| VA | 5 |
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 Dawn.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 108 |
| 2023 | 78 |
| 2022 | 100 |
| 2021 | 96 |
| 2020 | 83 |
| 2019 | 86 |
| 2018 | 100 |
| 2017 | 103 |
| 2016 | 85 |
| 2015 | 99 |
| 2014 | 94 |
| 2013 | 78 |
| 2012 | 90 |
| 2011 | 94 |
| 2010 | 92 |
| 2009 | 113 |
| 2008 | 114 |
| 2007 | 122 |
| 2006 | 129 |
| 2005 | 125 |
| 2004 | 157 |
| 2003 | 200 |
| 2002 | 197 |
| 2001 | 179 |
| 2000 | 240 |
| 1999 | 231 |
| 1998 | 264 |
| 1997 | 318 |
| 1996 | 260 |
| 1995 | 320 |
| 1994 | 391 |
| 1993 | 497 |
| 1992 | 613 |
| 1991 | 669 |
| 1990 | 740 |
| 1989 | 857 |
| 1988 | 1,061 |
| 1987 | 1,154 |
| 1986 | 1,452 |
| 1985 | 1,730 |
| 1984 | 2,105 |
| 1983 | 2,641 |
| 1982 | 3,088 |
| 1981 | 3,839 |
| 1980 | 4,479 |
| 1979 | 4,724 |
| 1978 | 5,217 |
| 1977 | 6,096 |
| 1976 | 7,048 |
| 1975 | 8,744 |
| 1974 | 9,417 |
| 1973 | 9,890 |
| 1972 | 11,340 |
| 1971 | 14,288 |
| 1970 | 15,681 |
| 1969 | 13,768 |
| 1968 | 13,441 |
| 1967 | 13,167 |
| 1966 | 13,603 |
| 1965 | 13,341 |
| 1964 | 12,614 |
| 1963 | 8,414 |
| 1962 | 8,982 |
| 1961 | 9,150 |
| 1960 | 7,812 |
| 1959 | 7,899 |
| 1958 | 5,674 |
| 1957 | 5,159 |
| 1956 | 5,127 |
| 1955 | 4,216 |
| 1954 | 3,356 |
| 1953 | 2,640 |
| 1952 | 1,884 |
| 1951 | 1,533 |
| 1950 | 1,411 |
| 1949 | 1,285 |
| 1948 | 1,241 |
| 1947 | 1,269 |
| 1946 | 1,040 |
| 1945 | 745 |
| 1944 | 654 |
| 1943 | 765 |
| 1942 | 675 |
| 1941 | 530 |
| 1940 | 427 |
| 1939 | 468 |
| 1938 | 471 |
| 1937 | 457 |
| 1936 | 512 |
| 1935 | 398 |
| 1934 | 288 |
| 1933 | 307 |
| 1932 | 319 |
| 1931 | 291 |
| 1930 | 221 |
| 1929 | 223 |
| 1928 | 188 |
| 1927 | 194 |
| 1926 | 175 |
| 1925 | 130 |
| 1924 | 141 |
| 1923 | 131 |
| 1922 | 104 |
| 1921 | 94 |
| 1920 | 84 |
| 1919 | 63 |
| 1918 | 49 |
| 1917 | 54 |
| 1916 | 57 |
| 1915 | 58 |
| 1914 | 30 |
| 1913 | 13 |
| 1912 | 17 |
| 1911 | 8 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1906 | 6 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1890 | 7 |
| 1888 | 5 |