Dakota
Gender: Unisex
Meaning: Friend or ally
Origin: Native American (Sioux)
Popularity: Ranked #319 in 2025 with 1,074 babies born.
History: Dakota comes from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux word meaning ally, friend, or those who are considered friends. It is the name of two U.S. states, North and South Dakota, which were named after the Dakota people. As a given name, it became popular in the United States in the 1990s and is used for both boys and girls, evoking the expansive American Great Plains.
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Dakota? About 1 in 1,578 babies born in 2025 were named Dakota, or roughly 5.8 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Dakota
What does the name Dakota mean?
Dakota means “Friend or ally” from Native American (Sioux) roots.
What is the origin of the name Dakota?
Dakota has Native American (Sioux) origin. The traditional meaning is “Friend or ally”.
How popular is Dakota?
Dakota ranked #319 in 2025 — given to 1,074 babies that year.
When was Dakota most popular?
Dakota peaked in 1995 with 6,575 babies registered that year.
Is Dakota a boy or girl name?
Dakota is used for both boys and girls. In the records, about 69% of Dakotas are boys and 31% are girls.
Is the name Dakota rising or falling in popularity?
Dakota has fallen 61 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #258 in 2020 to #319 in 2025.
How long has Dakota been recorded?
Dakota appears in birth records across 68 years — from 1915 through 2025.