Dakota
Boy name · #319 in 2025 · Uniqueness 46/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Dakota scores 46 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 (110), CA (59), OH (53), FL (52), GA (50). 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 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
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. It scores 46/100 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.