Dana
Boy name · #4142 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Dana? In official American birth records, Dana has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 25 baby boys were named Dana, placing it at #4142 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3085, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 72,000 boys born in 2025 was named Dana.
Babies named Dana per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Dana first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 1,799 boys were named Dana — good for #172 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Dana against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dana in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dana is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Dana will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dana is most common
State-level data for Dana is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Dana
Statistically, parents drawn to Dana tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Darin, Darcy, Dino, Duane, and Daren.
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Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dana | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #4139 |
| 2024 | 25 | #4200 |
| 2023 | 21 | #4742 |
| 2022 | 20 | #4850 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4118 |
| 2020 | 27 | #3811 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 31 | #3524 |
| 2017 | 30 | #3586 |
| 2016 | 33 | #3358 |
| 2015 | 37 | #3085 |
| 2014 | 37 | #3038 |
| 2013 | 29 | #3582 |
| 2012 | 40 | #2905 |
| 2011 | 40 | #2904 |
| 2010 | 45 | #2682 |
| 2009 | 57 | #2287 |
| 2008 | 63 | #2140 |
| 2007 | 74 | #1912 |
| 2006 | 64 | #2062 |
| 2005 | 74 | #1772 |
| 2004 | 65 | #1880 |
| 2003 | 78 | #1611 |
| 2002 | 83 | #1505 |
| 2001 | 99 | #1316 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dana?
In official American birth records, the name Dana first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 12 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Dana a popular boy name?
Dana ranked #4142 among boys in 2025 with 25 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3085.
When was the name Dana most popular?
Dana peaked in 1962, when 1,799 American boys received the name (ranked #172 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dana?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 72,000 newborn American boys was named Dana. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.