Dakota Unisex
Origin(s)
Pronunciationduh-KOH-tuh / /dəˈkoʊtə/Native American; English
Meaning
Native American: 'allies'; English: 'friend'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dakota is derived from the Native American Sioux tribe, where it means 'allies' or 'friends'. It has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries since the late 20th century. The name gained popularity in the United States, particularly as a unisex name, though it is often associated with boys. Dakota is also the name of a U.S. state, which further popularized its use.
Trend Summary
Dakota has seen a steady rise in popularity in the United States, particularly since the 1990s.
Similar Names
Variants
- Dakotah
International Variants
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Famous people named Dakota
Dakota Fanning is an American actress known for her roles in films such as 'I Am Sam' and 'War of the Worlds'.
Dakota Johnson is an American actress and producer, recognized for her role in the 'Fifty Shades' film series.
Fictional characters named Dakota
Dakota is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball', known for being a friend of the main characters.
Dakota is a character in the video game series 'Grand Theft Auto', appearing in various storylines.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Dakota was first seen in the United States in 1966. Dakota has ranked as high as #103 nationally, which occurred in 1995, and has been most popular in Texas, Ohio, California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. In the past 5 years the name Dakota has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Dakota (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 97 | |
| CA | 62 | |
| GA | 51 | |
| OH | 49 | |
| NC | 49 | |
| TN | 48 | |
| FL | 43 | |
| VA | 42 | |
| MI | 41 | |
| PA | 36 | |
| MO | 35 | |
| SC | 35 | |
| KY | 32 | |
| AL | 28 | |
| MD | 28 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1968 | 5 |
| 1970 | 9 |
| 1972 | 13 |
| 1973 | 9 |
| 1974 | 8 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1976 | 16 |
| 1977 | 22 |
| 1978 | 55 |
| 1979 | 34 |
| 1980 | 40 |
| 1981 | 29 |
| 1982 | 43 |
| 1983 | 49 |
| 1984 | 60 |
| 1985 | 109 |
| 1986 | 321 |
| 1987 | 430 |
| 1988 | 554 |
| 1989 | 824 |
| 1990 | 1,550 |
| 1991 | 2,740 |
| 1992 | 3,613 |
| 1993 | 4,411 |
| 1994 | 5,536 |
| 1995 | 6,575 |
| 1996 | 6,067 |
| 1997 | 5,664 |
| 1998 | 5,401 |
| 1999 | 5,093 |
| 2000 | 4,553 |
| 2001 | 3,980 |
| 2002 | 3,487 |
| 2003 | 3,160 |
| 2004 | 2,918 |
| 2005 | 2,722 |
| 2006 | 2,367 |
| 2007 | 1,961 |
| 2008 | 1,645 |
| 2009 | 1,387 |
| 2010 | 1,142 |
| 2011 | 1,030 |
| 2012 | 961 |
| 2013 | 905 |
| 2014 | 893 |
| 2015 | 942 |
| 2016 | 874 |
| 2017 | 999 |
| 2018 | 942 |
| 2019 | 973 |
| 2020 | 918 |
| 2021 | 954 |
| 2022 | 941 |
| 2023 | 1,014 |
| 2024 | 1,053 |