Dawn
Girl name · #2174 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Dawn? In official American birth records, Dawn has been tracked continuously since 1888, giving it 137 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 85 baby girls were named Dawn, placing it at #2174 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1996, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,176 girls born in 2025 was named Dawn.
The 137-year story
Dawn first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1970, when 15,681 girls were named Dawn — good for #16 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.
Babies named Dawn per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dawn against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dawn in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dawn is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Dawn will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dawn is most common
State-level data for Dawn 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 Dawn
Statistically, parents drawn to Dawn tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Dina, Tracy, Dena, Tina, and Lynn.
DinaTracyDenaTinaLynnDeannaGinaSonya
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dawn | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 85 | #2173 |
| 2024 | 108 | #1852 |
| 2023 | 78 | #2336 |
| 2022 | 100 | #1961 |
| 2021 | 96 | #2007 |
| 2020 | 83 | #2170 |
| 2019 | 86 | #2155 |
| 2018 | 100 | #1968 |
| 2017 | 105 | #1917 |
| 2016 | 85 | #2247 |
| 2015 | 99 | #1996 |
| 2014 | 94 | #2071 |
| 2013 | 78 | #2344 |
| 2012 | 90 | #2115 |
| 2011 | 94 | #2058 |
| 2010 | 92 | #2136 |
| 2009 | 113 | #1866 |
| 2008 | 114 | #1865 |
| 2007 | 122 | #1760 |
| 2006 | 130 | #1627 |
| 2005 | 125 | #1615 |
| 2004 | 157 | #1352 |
| 2003 | 200 | #1100 |
| 2002 | 197 | #1077 |
| 2001 | 179 | #1161 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dawn?
In official American birth records, the name Dawn first appeared in 1888 (over 137 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Dawn a popular girl name?
Dawn ranked #2174 among girls in 2025 with 85 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1996.
When was the name Dawn most popular?
Dawn peaked in 1970, when 15,681 American girls received the name (ranked #16 that year). Since 1970 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dawn?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,176 newborn American girls was named Dawn. 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.