Dana is a unisex name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Dana means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Dana across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Dana has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Dana is a unisex name of English origin meaning “of uncertain meaning”. used for both sexes.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 246,842 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 1,822 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 526 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 13 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 142 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Dana per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1971 (8,032/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1997 (201/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1999 (29/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1996 (9/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1997 (4/yr).
Dana has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1971, when it ranked #81 nationally (given to 8,032 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1970s.
Donna · Diane · Dawn · Tina · Danny · Diana · Tanya · Deanna
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →