Dana
Dana is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Dane or from Denmark.
Origin and history
Dana originated as an English surname meaning 'Dane' or someone from Denmark. Historically used for both boys and girls, it gained substantial popularity as a male name in the middle of the 20th century in the United States before trending toward female usage. Today, it remains a recognized unisex option with classic appeal.
Popularity in the United States
53,287 babies in the United States have been named Dana since 1880. It ranks #488 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1784.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.7 %)
- MA (10.4 %)
- OH (7.4 %)
- NY (7 %)
- ME (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 90 |
| 1890-1900 | 108 |
| 1900-1910 | 134 |
| 1910-1920 | 669 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,177 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,292 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,859 |
| 1950-1960 | 15,160 |
| 1960-1970 | 13,427 |
| 1970-1980 | 8,325 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,655 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,123 |
| 2000-2010 | 770 |
| 2010-2019 | 355 |
| 2020-2029 | 143 |
Famous people named Dana
- Dana Carvey: Comedian, Actor
- Dana Andrews: Actor
- Dana White: Executive, Promoter
Fun facts
- It was originally used as an English surname referring to an inhabitant of Denmark.
- While historically popular for boys, Dana became widely popular for girls starting in the mid-20th century.