How Many People Are Named Dakota?
Complete statistics for the name Dakota: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Dakota means 'friend' in Sioux and has been a rare choice for boys, with just 1 in 2,541 Americans bearing this name. There are around 129,880 people named Dakota living today, making it a genuinely modern name with 70% under 30.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life-path number 7 symbolizes introspection, wisdom, and spiritual growth.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 23All 132,430 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1995Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Dakota Through the Generations
With its peak popularity in 1995 when 7,700 babies were named Dakota, the name has seen a steady decline since then. Today, most people named Dakota are under 30, with 92,942 individuals falling into this age bracket. The average age of those named Dakota is 23, indicating it's a name closely associated with younger generations.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Dakota
Dakota is a unisex given name derived from the name of the Native American Dakota people. The name is translated to mean "friend", "friendly" or "allies" in the Yankton-Yanktonai and Santee dialects of the Dakota language.…
Full list on Wikipedia →📄 About the Name Dakota
How Many People Have the Name Dakota?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 261 people in the United States currently share the name Dakota. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,269,921 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Dakota a Common or Rare Name?
Dakota is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Dakota Mean?
Dakota means "friend" and comes from Sioux origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Dakota in SSA data, approximately 69% are male and 31% are female.
When Was Dakota Most Popular?
The name Dakota reached peak popularity in 1995, with 7,700 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Dakota?
Approximately 261 people named Dakota live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 261. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,269,921 Americans.
Is Dakota a rare name?
Dakota is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,269,921 Americans has this name.
What does the name Dakota mean?
Dakota means "friend" and comes from Sioux origins.
Is Dakota more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 69% of people named Dakota are male and 31% are female.
When was Dakota most popular?
Dakota peaked in 1995 with 7,700 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.