Dawn

Meaning of Dawn

It refers to the first appearance of light in the sky before the sun rises, symbolizing new beginnings or the start of a new day.

Dawn has English roots — browse every English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Dawn

After ranking as high as #912 in 2000, Dawn has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Dawn

• Dawn French
  British comedian, actress, writer
• Dawn Staley
  Olympic gold medalist, basketball coach
• Dawn Wells
  Actress, 'Gilligan's Island' star
• Dawn Upshaw
  Grammy-winning American operatic soprano
• Dawn Fraser
  Australian Olympic champion swimmer

More English names

Questions about the name Dawn

What does the name Dawn mean?

Dawn means it refers to the first appearance of light in the sky before the sun rises, symbolizing new beginnings or the start of a new day, and it comes from English origins.

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

Dawn is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Dawn?

Dawn did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Dawn most popular?

Dawn peaked at #912 in 2000.