Dakota
Girl name · #295 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
In 2025, 1,035 baby girls were named Dakota, placing it at #295 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #242, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,739 girls born in 2025 was named Dakota.
The 110-year story
Dakota first appears in the Social Security records in 1915, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 1,839 girls were named Dakota — good for #190 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Dakota per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dakota against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dakota in class?
Dakota scores 54 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Dakota is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dakota is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Dakotas were TX (112), CA (76), FL (64), GA (58), NY (44). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dakota
Statistically, parents drawn to Dakota tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Daniela, Fatima, Daniella, Mariana, and Tessa.
DanielaFatimaDaniellaMarianaTessaJulianaDelaneyAlayna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dakota | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,035 | #295 |
| 2024 | 1,160 | #273 |
| 2023 | 1,191 | #262 |
| 2022 | 1,210 | #259 |
| 2021 | 1,163 | #270 |
| 2020 | 1,175 | #257 |
| 2019 | 1,269 | #259 |
| 2018 | 1,322 | #246 |
| 2017 | 1,362 | #231 |
| 2016 | 1,417 | #227 |
| 2015 | 1,334 | #242 |
| 2014 | 1,149 | #283 |
| 2013 | 1,089 | #293 |
| 2012 | 1,039 | #307 |
| 2011 | 1,068 | #294 |
| 2010 | 1,142 | #285 |
| 2009 | 1,198 | #274 |
| 2008 | 1,288 | #266 |
| 2007 | 1,486 | #239 |
| 2006 | 1,839 | #190 |
| 2005 | 1,515 | #225 |
| 2004 | 1,180 | #277 |
| 2003 | 917 | #339 |
| 2002 | 952 | #323 |
| 2001 | 943 | #330 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dakota a popular girl name?
Dakota ranked #295 among girls in 2025 with 1,035 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #242.
When was the name Dakota most popular?
Dakota peaked in 2006, when 1,839 American girls received the name (ranked #190 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dakota?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,739 newborn American girls was named Dakota. It scores 54/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.