Dakota
Dakota is a unisex name of Native American origin meaning “friendly one, ally.” It ranked #319 in the United States in 2025. From the Lakota/Dakota Sioux word meaning friend or ally.
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how do you pronounce Dakota?
dah-KOH-tah
where does the name Dakota come from?
From the name of the Dakota people, meaning friend, friendly or allies in the Yankton-Yanktonai and Santee dialects of the Dakota language.
It is the name of two U.S. states and became a popular given name in the 1990s.
how popular is this name?
Dakota has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 41 years since 1985. It peaked at #56 in 1995, and ranked #319 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #319 |
| 2024 | #326 |
| 2023 | #328 |
| 2022 | #347 |
| 2021 | #339 |
| 2020 | #346 |
| 2019 | #344 |
| 2018 | #349 |
| 2017 | #340 |
| 2016 | #376 |
| 2010 | #292 |
| 2000 | #88 |
| 1995 | #56 |
| 1990 | #195 |
| 1985 | #866 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Dakota fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Dakota?
- Dakota Johnson
- Dakota Fanning
- Dakota Meyer
what are the nicknames and variants of Dakota?
Nicknames
what names are similar to Dakota?
what names go well with Dakota?
Sibling names that share Dakota's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Dakota
What does the name Dakota mean?
Dakota means “friendly one, ally”.
What is the origin of the name Dakota?
Dakota comes from the Native American naming tradition.
How popular is the name Dakota?
Dakota ranked #319 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1995, at #56, and it has spent 41 years in the top 1,000 since 1985.
Is Dakota a boy or girl name?
Dakota is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Dakota?
Dakota is pronounced dah-KOH-tah, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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