Gender-neutralSioux origin3 syllables
Dakota
Meaning: “Friend, ally”
About the name Dakota
Dakota is a gender-neutral name with Sioux roots, meaning “Friend, ally”.
It has a modern feel. In 2025, Dakota ranked #319 for boys in the US, with 1,074 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1995.
Etymology
From Dakota, meaning “ally”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Dakota”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #319
- In 2015
- #356
- Babies in 2025
- 1,074
Popularity of Dakota, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Names similar to Dakota
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.