Rising since 1991, #432 for girls today.
Popularity of Dream since 1970
Babies named Dream per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 47 | 0 |
| 2000s | 564 | 12 |
| 2010s | 2,044 | 184 |
| 2020s | 5,110 | 360 |
Meaning & origin
The name Dream entered the U.S. baby name landscape in 1970, a modern coinage reflecting a cultural shift toward abstract virtue names. As of 2025, it ranks 432nd for girls, with a frequency of 1 in 2,239 births. Dream experienced a sharp popularity spike, reaching its peak rank in 2022 before slightly declining. It has been rising in use since 1991, indicating enduring appeal. Geographically, Dream is most popular in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, suggesting regional preference in the Southern United States. Parents drawn to Dream often pair it with sibling names like Hope, Faith, and River, reinforcing a theme of aspirational word names. Despite its modern origin, Dream has carved out a recognizable niche, blending creativity with a gentle, lyrical quality.
Dream is a modern word name drawn from the English noun dream, itself from Middle English dreme, meaning 'to play music' or 'to have a vision'. Though the word has deep roots, its use as a given name is a late 20th century innovation, part of a broader trend of abstract virtue and concept names. It began appearing in U.S. records in the 1970s and saw a notable rise in the 2020s.
Where Dream is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Drea
Variants: Dreem
Sibling names for Dream
Names that share Dream's style, for a brother or sister.
