Declining since 1985, #1,959 for boys today.
Popularity of Dan since 1880
Babies named Dan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,402 |
| 1890s | 1,274 |
| 1900s | 1,499 |
| 1910s | 4,737 |
| 1920s | 8,100 |
| 1930s | 9,629 |
| 1940s | 18,017 |
| 1950s | 26,009 |
| 1960s | 22,709 |
| 1970s | 5,550 |
| 1980s | 2,808 |
| 1990s | 1,860 |
| 2000s | 1,440 |
| 2010s | 1,008 |
| 2020s | 512 |
Meaning & origin
Dan has a long history as a biblical name, first appearing in the U.S. records in 1880. It reached its peak popularity in 1958, ranking much higher than its current position of 1,959th in 2025, when about 1 in 22,000 boys received the name. Since 1985, its usage has been steadily declining, though it remains well-known. The name's top states historically include Ohio, California, and Texas. As a short, one-syllable name, Dan carries the weight of its biblical heritage while remaining straightforward and familiar.
Dan is a Hebrew name meaning 'he judged' or 'God is my judge.' It appears in the Bible as the fifth son of Jacob and founder of the Tribe of Dan. As an independent given name, it has been used since the Protestant Reformation, and in modern times it often serves as a short form of Daniel.
Where Dan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Dan” around the world
Where Dan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Ireland
15
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Danny
Variants: Dann
Sibling names for Dan
Names that share Dan's style, for a brother or sister.
