Dakota
Girl name · #295 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Dakota? In official American birth records, Dakota has been tracked continuously since 1915, giving it 110 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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 girls are born in each state, Dakota is most common in MD (1.9 per 1,000), MS (1.8 per 1,000), LA (1.5 per 1,000), AL (1.4 per 1,000), UT (1.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 girls. 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 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
How old is the name Dakota?
In official American birth records, the name Dakota first appeared in 1915 (over 110 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 110 years.
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. 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.