Dakota is a

unisex Unisex is an adjective indicating something is not sex-specific, i.e. is suitable for any type of sex. The term can also mean gender-blindness or gender neutrality. The term 'unisex' was coined in the 1960s and was used fairly informally. The co ...

given name derived from the name of the Native American

Dakota people The Dakota (pronounced , or ) are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe (Native American), tribe and First Nations in Canada, First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultur ...

, or from the name of two states in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

North Dakota North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...

and

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

, which are also derived from the Dakota people indigenous to that area. The name is translated to mean "friend", "friendly" or "allies" in the Yankton-Yanktonai and Santee dialects of the

Dakota language The Dakota language ( or ), also referred to as Dakhóta, is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, commonly known in English as the Sioux. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lak ...

.
Online Etymology Dictionary
/ref> Dakotas

Popularity

The name has been in occasional use for both sexes in the United States since the 1850s and 1860s, according to census records. It was part of a 19th century fashion for using unusual place names. It is currently used in roughly equal numbers for both boys and girls in that country. The name's popularity grew in the 1990s in the United States. It was among the top 100 most popular boy names from 1993 to 2001, reaching its peak at number 56 in 1995. Since 2010, it has been slightly more frequently given to girls. As of 2021, it was the 270th most common girl name and the 344th most common boy name.

People with the name

* Dakota Abberton, Australian surfer *

Dakota Allen Dakota Devon Allen (born November 2, 1995) is an American former professional football linebacker who played four seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He also played junior co ...

(born 1995), American football player *

Dakota Cox Dakota Mitchell Cox (born November 5, 1994) is a former American football linebacker for the New Mexico Lobos. Early life Attended Juan Diego Catholic High School in Utah. Cox was named first-team All-State his junior and senior years. He fini ...

(born 1994), American football player * Dakota Darsow (born 1987), American professional wrestler * Dakota Daulby (born 1994), Canadian actor *

Dakota Fanning Hannah Dakota Fanning (born February 23, 1994) is an American actress. Fanning is known for her roles in blockbuster films and independent features, both as a child actor and as an adult. Her accolades include nominations for a Golden Globe A ...

(born 1994), American actress *

Dakota Floeter Dakota Floeter is an American actor and rock musician, born August 2, 1994, in Los Angeles, California. In addition to Dakota's acting roles in television and film, he has played guitar in television commercials for Folgers (2000), Fender Guita ...

(born 1994), American actor and musician *

Dakota Goyo Dakota Avery Goyo (born August 22, 1999) is a Canadian former actor. He is best known for playing Max Kenton in the film ''Real Steel'' (2011) and Jesse Barrett in the film ''Dark Skies'' (2013). He also voices Jamie Bennett in the DreamWorks An ...

(born 1999), Canadian actor *

Dakota Johnson Dakota Mayi Johnson (born October 4, 1989) is an American actress. Her accolades include an Independent Spirit Award and a nomination for a British Academy Film Award. The daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, Johnson made her ...

(born 1989), American model and actress * Dakota Jordan (born 2003), American baseball player *

Dakota Kai Cheree Georgina "Charlie" Crowley (born 6 May 1988) is a New Zealand professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in the WWE, where she performed under the ring name Dakota Kai. Prior to her signing with WWE, Crowley performed under t ...

(born 1988), New Zealander professional wrestler * Dakota Lane (born 1959), American author *

Dakota Meyer Dakota Louis Meyer (born June 26, 1988) is a current United States Marine. A veteran of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), War in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009 ...

, United States Marine and Medal of Honor recipient *

Dakota Morton Dakota Morton (born June 12, 1988, in Canada) is known as the World's Youngest Radio Host. He created the record and set it on January 16, 1999 at the age of 10 years, 218 days. The record was awarded while Dakota was hosting his radio show at C ...

(born 1988), Canadian radio host *

Dakota North (speedway rider) Dakota North may refer to: * Dakota North (comics), a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe * Dakota North (speedway rider), Australian motorcycle speedway rider See also * North Dakota (disambiguation) {{hndis, North, Dakota ...

(born 1991), Australian speedway rider *

Dakota Rose Dakota Rose Ostrenga (born September 19, 1995), known professionally as Dakota Rose, is an American model, fashion blogger, and television personality based in Tokyo, Japan. Ostrenga achieved early Internet fame by posting make-up tutorials on Yo ...

(born 1995), Japan-based American model *

Dakota Blue Richards Dakota Blue Richards (born 11 April 1994) is an English actress. Her film debut at the age of 13 was in '' The Golden Compass'', as the lead character Lyra Belacqua. Other lead roles include the wayward teenager April in '' Dustbin Baby'' and ...

(born 1994), English actress *

Dakota Staton Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No. 4 hit "The Late, Late Show". She was also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period due to her conversion to ...

(1930–2007), American jazz singer * Rayne Dakota (Dak) Prescott (born 1993), American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys

Fictional

Dakota North (comics) Dakota North is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Martha Thomases and artist Tony Salmons, North was originally the star of her own short-lived 1986 series and later a part of ...

, a fictional Marvel Comics character *Dakota, a police officer in

Lone Wolf McQuade ''Lone Wolf McQuade'' is a 1983 American Neo-western action film directed by Steve Carver and starring Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera, L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong, Leon Isaac Kennedy and Robert Beltran. Plot J.J. McQuad ...

, portrayed by L.Q. Jones *Dakota, a contestant on '' Total Drama: Revenge of the Island''

Notes

{{given name English-language unisex given names Feminine given names Masculine given names Unisex given names English unisex given names