Where does the name Dakota come from?

Dakota is a unisex name of Native American origin.

Is Dakota a boy or a girl name?

Dakota is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 30% of children given the name Dakota are girls and 70% are boys.

How popular is the name Dakota in 2023?

Dakota ranks #262 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1995 with 7,700 babies.

How do you pronounce Dakota?

Dakota is pronounced da-KOH-ta (3 syllables).

What are common spellings of Dakota?

Dakota is also written as Dakotah.

A name from Native American · Unisex

Dakota

From the Dakota people of the northern Great Plains; the name means 'allies' or 'friends' in the Dakota language. Adopted as a unisex given name in 1990s America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 108-year arc in numbers.

130,247 U.S. births recorded from 1915–2023.

Popularity · 1915–2023

2,208 births in 2023

1915 1969 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

DFrom the Dakota people of the northern Great Plains; the name means 'allies' or 'friends' in the Dakota language. Adopted as a unisex given name in 1990s America.

Variants & spellings

1 ways to spell "Dakota".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Dakotah Most common

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Dakota.

D
Dakota Fanning (actress)
D
Dakota Johnson (actress)
D
Dakota Meyer (Medal of Honor recipient)

Quick answers

People often ask about Dakota.

What does the name Dakota mean?: Dakota means from the Dakota people of the northern Great Plains; the name means 'allies' or 'friends' in the Dakota language. Adopted as a unisex given name in 1990s America.
Where does the name Dakota come from?: Dakota is a unisex name of Native American origin.
Is Dakota a boy or a girl name?: Dakota is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 30% of children given the name Dakota are girls and 70% are boys.
How popular is the name Dakota in 2023?: Dakota ranks #262 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1995 with 7,700 babies.
How do you pronounce Dakota?: Dakota is pronounced da-KOH-ta (3 syllables).
What are common spellings of Dakota?: Dakota is also written as Dakotah.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.