Dakota

Meaning of Dakota

Dakota is a name from the Dakota tribe of Native Americans. It means 'friend' or 'ally'.

Dakota has Native American roots — browse every Native American baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Dakota

Dakota has cooled off, slipping to #296 in 2025, down from a peak of #190 in 2006.

Dakota as a boy's name

Dakota is also used as a boy's name, currently ranked #319 in the US. This name comes from a Native American tribe and means 'friends' or 'allies'.

Notable people named Dakota

• Dakota Johnson
  Actress, Fifty Shades star
• Dakota Fanning
  Actress, child star prodigy
• Dakota Rivers
  Actress, model
• Dakota Kai
  Professional wrestler
• Dakota Striker
  Country music singer

More Native American names

Questions about the name Dakota

What does the name Dakota mean?

Dakota means dakota is a name from the dakota tribe of native americans. it means 'friend' or 'ally', and it comes from Native American origins.

Is Dakota a boy's or a girl's name?

Dakota is used for both boys and girls in the United States, which makes it a unisex name.

How popular is the name Dakota?

In 2025, Dakota ranked #296 for girls, down from #272 the year before and #319 for boys, up from #328 the year before.

When was Dakota most popular?

Dakota peaked at #190 in 2006.