Dakota
Dakota is a unisex name of Native American origin meaning “friendly one, ally.” It ranked #378 in the United States in 2025. From the Lakota/Dakota Sioux word meaning friend or ally.
how do you pronounce Dakota?
dah-KOH-tah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Dakota mean?
The name Dakota means “friendly one, ally.” It comes from the Native American language tradition.
From the Lakota/Dakota Sioux word meaning friend or ally. It is the name of two U.S. states and became a popular given name in the 1990s.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #378 |
| 2023 | #374 |
| 2022 | #369 |
| 2021 | #361 |
| 2020 | #354 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Dakota?
- Dakota Johnson
- Dakota Fanning
- Dakota Meyer
what names are similar to Dakota?
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Dakota? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation