Unisex name · since 1916

Dare

Since 1916, U.S. Social Security records show 65 babies named Dare, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

#31,919 of 72,339
all-time among girls
65
born since 1916
1920s
peak decade

65 girls have been named Dare since 1916, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.

Social Security Administration records show Dare recorded 65 times among girls since 1916, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1916 to 1979.

  • #31,919 of 72,339 all-time among girls
  • 65 born since 1916
  • 1920s peak decade

Data updated Aug 2026

The verdict

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Dare ranks #31,919 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 65 born since 1916, peaking in the 1920s.

#31,919 of 72,339
all-time among girls
65
born since 1916
1920s
peak decade
Below the archive median
All-time archive position

Dare's 65 recorded births place it above 55.7% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.

National only
State-record footprint

No state rows cleared SSA’s public reporting threshold for this name.

Dare's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Dare's SSA record in two at 1947 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1916, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 7, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Dare popularity over time - girls

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–1979

Last recorded 1979
Peak year (1921)
7
Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
4.555.566.577.5 191619181921192619301933194719481953195919631979 5

Dare popularity over time - boys

63 total births recorded since 1921 (Dare as boys' name)

Unisex variant - 63 births
4.555.566.5 192119231927192919521957197119921993199419962013 5

Dare by decade

1920s is the heaviest window (13 births, 20% of the file).

1920s was Dare's strongest decade.

13 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.

Dare births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 13 births (20% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of August 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Dare? ▼
Since 1916, Social Security records show 65 babies named Dare. Across the full SSA archive it ranks #31,919 of 72,339 girls' names by total births. The most recent recorded year was 1979. Its busiest year on record was 1921, with 7 births.
Where does Dare sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Dare ranks #31,919 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). All-time ordinal matches browse popularity (total births DESC); the current ordinal uses the null SSA file. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
When was Dare most popular? ▼
Dare was most popular in the 1920s decade with 13 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Is Dare a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Dare is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 65 births, and as a boy's name it has 63 births.
How long has the name Dare been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Dare since 1916 -- 64 years through the most recent 1979 data.
What names are similar to Dare? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Darlene, Darla, Darcy, Dara, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Dare's data

  • Dare's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (13 total births) through the 1970s (5) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Dare

Nearby Names Like Dare

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Dare

Darlene Girl
#1845 204,942 births
Darla Girl
#941 43,667 births
Darcy Girl
#858 23,418 births
Dara Girl
#1131 13,692 births
Daria Girl
#1856 9,063 births

Compare Dare side by side: Dare vs Darlene Dare vs Darla Dare vs Darcy

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Doxie
65 births · Peak 1916
Ethelle
65 births · Peak 1918
Lovinia
65 births · Peak 1918
Eufelia
65 births · Peak 1922
Modest
65 births · Peak 1921
Bronnie
65 births · Peak 1922
Floetta
65 births · Peak 1931
Ruble
65 births · Peak 1921

Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span

Two nationwide peer axes for Dare: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.

Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.

Data Sources

Data as of August 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, 1916–1979 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

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 Dare 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 August 2026.