Dakota
How to say it: duh-KOH-tuh · /dəˈkoʊtə/
From the Dakota Sioux language, meaning 'friend' or 'ally'; also a name for the Dakotan peoples.
Dakota was the 304th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,109 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 9% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #351 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #304 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 2,109 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,527 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −9% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #351 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Dakota reached a high in the 1990s and now rests well below that high. Small gains are expected in the near future.
What goes with it
Sharp consonants give Dakota a strong presence with place name roots. Sierra and River share its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Dakota is about 1 in 64.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #497.
Famous people named Dakota
- Dakota Fanning (born 1994)American actress and model
- Dakota Johnson (born 1989)American actress and model
- Dakota Goyo (born 1999)Canadian actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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