Dacota
Every Dacota since 1988 — 679 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Dacota
Dacota is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1988, 679 American babies have been named Dacota — about 72% boys and 28% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1998, when 50 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Dacota stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Dacota year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | 7 | #10,034 |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | 6 | #14,546 | — | — |
| 2016 | 5 | #16,855 | 8 | #9,023 |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 5 | #17,169 | — | — |
| 2013 | 5 | #17,168 | — | — |
| 2012 | 5 | #17,485 | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | 7 | #9,837 |
| 2010 | 8 | #12,557 | 6 | #11,029 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10,133 | 8 | #9,155 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14,186 | 13 | #6,467 |
| 2007 | 10 | #11,029 | 14 | #5,971 |
| 2006 | 7 | #13,928 | 17 | #5,118 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12,086 | 16 | #5,083 |
| 2004 | — | — | 19 | #4,449 |
| 2003 | 14 | #7,686 | 14 | #5,321 |
| 2002 | — | — | 34 | #2,768 |
| 2001 | 7 | #12,349 | 33 | #2,818 |
| 2000 | 12 | #8,150 | 25 | #3,326 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,111 | 32 | #2,406 |
| 1990 | 5 | #13,438 | 12 | #4,456 |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Dacota in 2025?
Dacota did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Dacota?
679 babies have been named Dacota in the United States since 1988, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Dacota most popular?
Dacota peaked in 1998, when 50 newborns received the name.
Is Dacota a boy or girl name?
Dacota is used for both: about 28% of babies named Dacota have been girls and 72% boys.
Is the name Dacota rising or falling?
Dacota has been roughly stable over the past decade.