Dakota

Dakota - A very unique female name

Dakota appeared on the charts for the first time in 1959 on position #2236. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Dakota and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Dakota? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Dakota. The baby girl name Dakota was given to 1,011 baby girls in 2025, ranking #295 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,289 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Dakota peaked in popularity 20 years ago in 2006 on position 190.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Dakota, 1-5?

Dakota is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Dakota is currently topping the baby name charts in Maryland at position #116 - and is the least popular in Wisconsin at position #719.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Dakota is where you live.

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Dakota origin and meaning

Dakota (Sioux), via the tribal and place name

'Friend, ally' — dakota is the Sioux people's name for themselves

Dakota comes from the name the Dakota Sioux use for themselves, understood as friends or allies, and passed into wider use through the territory and state names. For girls it appears in the data from 1959 and peaked in 2006. It has been easing down since 2020.

Attested etymology

Dakota is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Dakota, pop culture references for the name Dakota and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Dakota

We've found the following names that sound similar to Dakota, sorted by popularity.

Dusty / Dakotah / Dusti / Dustie / Dakoda /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Dakota

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Dakota a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Dakota?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

duh-KOH-tuh · /dəˈkoʊtə/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Dakotah — Respelt variant with final h

Nicknames: Kota

Famous bearers

• Dakota Fanning — Actress (b. 1994) Contemporary
• Dakota Johnson — Actress (b. 1989) Contemporary

Style

Place name

Why parents choose it

Dakota has a wide-open, Western feel and a friendly sound that works at any age.

Worth knowing

• It names an Indigenous nation, not just a landscape — some families weigh that origin carefully.