gender neutral
Dana
from Denmark
About Dana
Clean, crisp, and confidently understated, this name proves that simplicity can be its own form of sophistication. It requires no explanation, no spelling corrections, no lengthy repetitions—just four letters that accomplish everything a name should. The single syllable carries surprising versatility, working seamlessly from playground introductions through professional networking events decades later. There's a refreshing lack of pretension here, a straightforward quality that suggests authenticity and groundedness. The name crosses cultural boundaries with ease, recognized and respected in numerous countries and contexts without losing its essential character. It never tries too hard or demands attention through novelty, instead earning recognition through its quiet strength and timeless appeal. For parents seeking substance over flash, tradition over trend, this represents an enduringly wise choice.
Popularity of the Name Dana
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | #835 | ||||
| 1883 | #762 | ||||
| 1884 | #694 | ||||
| 1885 | #946 | ||||
| 1886 | #851 | ||||
| 1888 | #974 | ||||
| 1891 | #851 | ||||
| 1896 | #911 | ||||
| 1899 | #848 | ||||
| 1900 | #838 | ||||
| 1903 | #937 | ||||
| 1910 | #946 | ||||
| 1914 | #947 | ||||
| 1917 | #934 | ||||
| 1918 | #880 | ||||
| 1920 | #874 | ||||
| 1921 | #776 | ||||
| 1922 | #908 | ||||
| 1923 | #819 | ||||
| 1924 | #931 | ||||
| 1925 | #843 | ||||
| 1926 | #816 | ||||
| 1927 | #792 | ||||
| 1928 | #882 | ||||
| 1929 | #753 | ||||
| 1930 | #818 | ||||
| 1931 | #684 | ||||
| 1932 | #703 | ||||
| 1933 | #629 | ||||
| 1934 | #686 | ||||
| 1935 | #566 | ||||
| 1936 | #498 | ||||
| 1937 | #544 | ||||
| 1938 | #557 | ||||
| 1939 | #514 | ||||
| 1940 | #434 | ||||
| 1941 | #409 | ||||
| 1942 | #405 | ||||
| 1943 | #350 | ||||
| 1944 | #300 | ||||
| 1945 | #268 | ||||
| 1946 | #273 | ||||
| 1947 | #292 | ||||
| 1948 | #280 | ||||
| 1949 | #260 | ||||
| 1950 | #248 | ||||
| 1951 | #235 | ||||
| 1952 | #231 | ||||
| 1953 | #230 | ||||
| 1954 | #217 | ||||
| 1955 | #202 | ||||
| 1956 | #174 | ||||
| 1957 | #155 | ||||
| 1958 | #162 | ||||
| 1959 | #143 | ||||
| 1960 | #141 | ||||
| 1961 | #128 | ||||
| 1962 | #117 | ||||
| 1963 | #88 | ||||
| 1964 | #70 | ||||
| 1965 | #78 | ||||
| 1966 | #68 | ||||
| 1967 | #71 | ||||
| 1968 | #70 | ||||
| 1969 | #60 | ||||
| 1970 | #54 | #409 | |||
| 1971 | #44 | #327 | |||
| 1972 | #52 | #297 | |||
| 1973 | #59 | #262 | #460 | ||
| 1974 | #55 | #311 | |||
| 1975 | #62 | #174 | #467 | ||
| 1976 | #64 | #187 | #522 | ||
| 1977 | #62 | #154 | #545 | ||
| 1978 | #71 | #159 | #548 | ||
| 1979 | #54 | #183 | |||
| 1980 | #68 | #161 | #567 | ||
| 1981 | #70 | #214 | |||
| 1982 | #67 | #235 | |||
| 1983 | #72 | #159 | |||
| 1984 | #73 | #185 | #472 | ||
| 1985 | #82 | #206 | |||
| 1986 | #92 | #243 | |||
| 1987 | #83 | #172 | #515 | ||
| 1988 | #90 | #255 | #453 | ||
| 1989 | #105 | #256 | |||
| 1990 | #114 | #189 | |||
| 1991 | #131 | #179 | #170 | ||
| 1992 | #144 | #217 | #152 | ||
| 1993 | #155 | #199 | #162 | ||
| 1994 | #167 | #184 | #175 | ||
| 1995 | #170 | #160 | #470 | #150 | |
| 1996 | #175 | #121 | #320 | #145 | |
| 1997 | #179 | #214 | #178 | #349 | #147 |
| 1998 | #216 | #264 | #113 | #298 | #167 |
| 1999 | #239 | #274 | #154 | #460 | #153 |
| 2000 | #311 | #419 | #235 | #188 | |
| 2001 | #329 | #415 | #247 | #226 | |
| 2002 | #338 | #510 | #241 | #534 | #256 |
| 2003 | #379 | #485 | #453 | #242 | |
| 2004 | #429 | #615 | #312 | ||
| 2005 | #397 | #579 | #389 | #615 | #334 |
| 2006 | #397 | #615 | #399 | #509 | #372 |
| 2007 | #441 | #640 | #642 | #384 | |
| 2008 | #465 | #676 | #611 | #488 | |
| 2009 | #528 | #661 | #933 | #487 | |
| 2010 | #463 | #675 | #505 | ||
| 2011 | #617 | #868 | #372 | #422 | |
| 2012 | #628 | #778 | #570 | ||
| 2013 | #733 | #823 | #513 | ||
| 2014 | #795 | #683 | #599 | #608 | |
| 2015 | #857 | #779 | #673 | #651 | |
| 2016 | #873 | #953 | #508 | ||
| 2017 | #943 | #992 | #897 | #595 | |
| 2018 | #853 | #853 | #596 | ||
| 2019 | #953 | #830 | #744 | ||
| 2023 | #976 | #968 | #445 | #567 | |
| 2021 | #921 | #891 | #666 | ||
| 2022 | #989 | #923 | #695 | ||
| 2024 | #958 | #749 | #664 | ||
| 2025 | #929 | #731 | #940 | ||
| 2020 | #703 | #943 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Dana
Names Similar to Dana
Nicknames for Dana
- Dan
- Danny
- Dani
- Day
Famous People Named Dana
| Dana Delany | American actress |
| Dana Vollmer | American Olympic swimmer |
| Dana Bash | American journalist and anchor |
| Dana Barron | American actress known for her role in "National Lampoon's Vacation" |
| Dana Davis | American actress from "Heroes" and "Franklin & Bash" |
| Dana Plato | American actress from the TV show "Diff'rent Strokes" |
| Dana Wynter | British-American actress from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" |
| Dana International | Israeli singer and Eurovision winner |
| Dana Carvey | American comedian and actor |
| Dana Brooke | American professional wrestler and bodybuilder |
| Dana Evans | American basketball player |
| Dana Gillespie | English singer-songwriter and actress |
| Dana Sparks | American actress from "Falcon Crest" |
| Dana Hill | American actress from "National Lampoon's European Vacation" |
| Dana Wheeler-Nicholson | American actress from "Tombstone" and "Fletch" |
| Dana Tyler | American news anchor and reporter |
| Dana Reeve | American actress and wife of Christopher Reeve |
| Dana Jacobson | American sports anchor and reporter |
| Dana Snyman | South African writer and journalist |
Characters Named Dana
| Dana Poole | "The Parkers" |
| Dana Mercer | "Prototype" |
| Dana Sterling | "Robotech" |
| Dana Foster | "Step by Step" |
| Dana Barrett | "Ghostbusters" |
| Dana Fairbanks | "The L Word" |
| Dana Cruz | "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" |
| Dana Scully | "The X-Files" |
| Dana Tan | "Batman Beyond" |
| Dana Whitaker | "Sports Night" |
| Dana Polk | "Final Destination" |