Dakota
Boy name · #319 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Dakota? In official American birth records, Dakota has been tracked continuously since 1966, giving it 59 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,074 baby boys were named Dakota, placing it at #319 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #356, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,676 boys born in 2025 was named Dakota.
Babies named Dakota per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 59-year story
Dakota first appears in the Social Security records in 1966, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 6,575 boys were named Dakota — good for #56 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dakota against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dakota in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dakota is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Dakota is most common in OK (2 per 1,000), MS (1.8 per 1,000), AR (1.6 per 1,000), KY (1.5 per 1,000), SC (1.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Dakota is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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 Dalton, Devin, Tanner, Darius, and Spencer.
DaltonDevinTannerDariusSpencerTylerDanteMalik
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dakota | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,074 | #319 |
| 2024 | 1,060 | #326 |
| 2023 | 1,017 | #328 |
| 2022 | 945 | #347 |
| 2021 | 958 | #339 |
| 2020 | 920 | #346 |
| 2019 | 973 | #344 |
| 2018 | 944 | #349 |
| 2017 | 1,000 | #340 |
| 2016 | 874 | #376 |
| 2015 | 943 | #356 |
| 2014 | 894 | #357 |
| 2013 | 905 | #350 |
| 2012 | 961 | #328 |
| 2011 | 1,031 | #312 |
| 2010 | 1,142 | #292 |
| 2009 | 1,387 | #251 |
| 2008 | 1,645 | #226 |
| 2007 | 1,962 | #202 |
| 2006 | 2,367 | #172 |
| 2005 | 2,722 | #147 |
| 2004 | 2,918 | #137 |
| 2003 | 3,160 | #126 |
| 2002 | 3,487 | #107 |
| 2001 | 3,980 | #93 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dakota?
In official American birth records, the name Dakota first appeared in 1966 (over 59 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 59 years.
Is Dakota a popular boy name?
Dakota ranked #319 among boys in 2025 with 1,074 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #356.
When was the name Dakota most popular?
Dakota peaked in 1995, when 6,575 American boys received the name (ranked #56 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dakota?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,676 newborn American boys was named Dakota. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.