Total births
3,356
Unisex name · since 1986
Dakoda
Since 1986, U.S. Social Security records show 3,356 babies named Dakoda, peaking in 2004. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1978
- among boys today
- 3,356
- born since 1986
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Dakoda is the #1978 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 3,356 recorded since 1986.
Social Security Administration records show Dakoda recorded 3,356 times among boys since 1986, holding rank #1978 nationally today, ahead of 86% of boys, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1986 to 2025.
- #1978 among boys today
- 3,356 born since 1986
- 2000s peak decade
- 86% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Dakoda is currently the #1978 unisex name in America, more common than 86% of boys - 3,356 born since 1986, peaking in the 2000s.
- #1978
- among boys today
- 3,356
- born since 1986
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Dakoda vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1978
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 86% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Dakoda was born in this single decade.
2004
Single peak year
153 babies were named Dakoda in 2004 - its busiest year on record.
How Dakoda compares
3,356 Top 16% higher than 84% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Dakoda's all-time total is 9x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Dakoda | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,356 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 153 | 23 | 22,252 |
Dakoda's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Dakoda's SSA record in two at 2006 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1987, with only 12 births recorded -- set against the 2004 peak of 153, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Dakoda at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2004
Current rank
#1,978
Active since
1986
Dakoda popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1986–2025
- Peak year (2004)
- 153
- Annual births at peak, across 40 years of records
Dakoda popularity over time - girls
904 total births recorded since 1991 (Dakoda as girls' name)
Dakoda by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Dakoda's strongest decade.
1,124 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Dakoda births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 65
1980s
65 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,102 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,124 births
- 2010s
2010s
613 births
- 2020s
2020s
452 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,124 births (33% of all-time use).
How Dakoda compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Dakoda's total volume
Dakoda vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Dakoda by state
Where Dakoda concentrates geographically, total births since 1986
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 183 | 5.5% |
| #2 | California | | 141 | 4.2% |
| #3 | Michigan | | 110 | 3.3% |
| #4 | Pennsylvania | | 103 | 3.1% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 96 | 2.9% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 86 | 2.6% |
| #7 | Florida | | 79 | 2.4% |
| #8 | Indiana | | 69 | 2.1% |
Texas share of Dakoda's total US births 5.5%
Even split
183 of 3,356 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 26 reporting states.
Dakoda appears in 26 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Dakoda? ▼
Since 1986, Social Security records show 3,356 babies named Dakoda. Today it holds rank #1978 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2004, with 153 births.
When was Dakoda most popular? ▼
Dakoda was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,124 total births. The single peak year was 2004.
Where is Dakoda most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Dakoda are Texas (183 births), California (141 births), Michigan (110 births).
Is Dakoda a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Dakoda is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,356 births, and as a girl's name it has 904 births.
How long has the name Dakoda been used? ▼
Records for Dakoda go back to 1986, giving 40 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Dakoda? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Dakota, Dakari, Dakotah, Dakarai, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Dakoda's data
- Dakoda's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (1,124 total births) through the 2020s (452) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Dakodas (183 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Dakoda
Nearby Names Like Dakoda
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Dakoda
Dakota Boy
#326 93,118 births
Dakari Boy
#796 4,326 births
Dakotah Boy
#4773 3,151 births
Dakarai Boy
#3727 1,493 births
Daksh Boy
#3091 759 births
Compare Dakoda side by side: Dakoda vs Dakota Dakoda vs Dakari Dakoda vs Dakotah
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Dakoda
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1986–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Dakoda: #1978 Unisex Name - 3,356 Births, Peak 2004." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/dakoda. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Dakoda draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.