Rising since 2019, #5,861 for boys today.
Popularity of Dune since 2016
Babies named Dune per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 92 |
Meaning & origin
Dune is a modern name that entered the U.S. baby name charts in 2016, as noted in Social Security Administration records. It reached its peak rank of 5,861 in 2023, with a 1-in-113,872 occurrence rate among newborn boys. The name has been consistently rising since 2019, reflecting growing interest in nature-inspired and literary names. While not yet tied to any state or region, Dune's trajectory suggests it may continue to climb as new generations encounter the 'Dune' franchise. Its gender-neutral quality and strong one-syllable sound make it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with both environmental and cultural resonance.
Dune is a modern coinage taken directly from the English vocabulary word 'dune', which comes from Middle Dutch 'dūne'. The name gained prominence as a given name after the publication of Frank Herbert's 1965 science fiction novel 'Dune' and its subsequent film adaptations. It has seen use as a gender-neutral name, more common for boys, particularly in the United States since the 2010s.
“Dune” around the world
Where Dune lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Dune
Names that share Dune's style, for a brother or sister.
