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At a Glance: Name: Dakota – Meaning: friend, ally – Origin: Dakota (Siouan) language – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: duh-KOH-tah
Dakota is a neutral name, pronounced duh-KOH-tah, that comes from the Dakota (Siouan) language, where it means friend, ally. It falls into the classic category, and Social Security records for it go all the way back to 1915. For a parent weighing it today, that's a name with over a century of documented use behind it.
Meaning & Origin of Dakota
Meaning: Friend, ally.
Origin: Dakota (Siouan) language.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Dakota
Phonetic: duh-KOH-tah IPA: /dəˈkoʊtə/
Popularity of Dakota
Dakota hit its high point in 1995 at #56, with 6,575 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled much lower, at #272 with 1,155 babies — still in steady use, just well off its 1990s peak.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1915–2024.
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Free printable nursery art for Dakota, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
FAQ
What does the name Dakota mean?
Friend, ally. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Dakota)
How do you pronounce Dakota?
Dakota is pronounced duh-KOH-tah (IPA: /dəˈkoʊtə/).
Is Dakota a popular name right now?
Dakota peaked at #56 in 1995 and is ranked #272 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)
📊 How popular is Dakota? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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