Total births
1,689
Unisex name · since 1983
Lakota
Since 1983, U.S. Social Security records show 1,689 babies named Lakota, peaking in 1997. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5074
- among girls today
- 1,689
- born since 1983
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- Lakota is the #5074 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,689 recorded since 1983.
Social Security Administration records show Lakota recorded 1,689 times among girls since 1983, holding rank #5074 nationally today, ahead of 71% of girls, 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 1983 to 2025.
- #5074 among girls today
- 1,689 born since 1983
- 2000s peak decade
- 71% more common than other girls
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Lakota is currently the #5074 unisex name in America, more common than 71% of girls - 1,689 born since 1983, peaking in the 2000s.
- #5074
- among girls today
- 1,689
- born since 1983
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other girls
Lakota vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#5074
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 71% of names given to girls today.
2000s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Lakota was born in this single decade.
1997
Single peak year
80 babies were named Lakota in 1997 - its busiest year on record.
How Lakota compares
1,689 Top 24% higher than 76% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Lakota's all-time total is 4x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Lakota | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,689 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 80 | 48 | 19,840 |
Lakota's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Lakota splits its recorded history at 2005: 56% of all births land in the more recent half, 44% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1987 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1997 peak of 80 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Lakota at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1997
Current rank
#5,074
Active since
1983
Lakota popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1983–2025
- Peak year (1997)
- 80
- Annual births at peak, across 43 years of records
Lakota popularity over time - boys
1,556 total births recorded since 1978 (Lakota as boys' name)
Lakota by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Lakota's strongest decade.
521 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Lakota births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 31
1980s
31 births
- 1990s
1990s
473 births
- 2000s
2000s
521 births
- 2010s
2010s
449 births
- 2020s
2020s
215 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 521 births (31% of all-time use).
How Lakota compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Lakota's total volume
Lakota vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Lakota by state
Where Lakota concentrates geographically, total births since 1983
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Oklahoma | | 49 | 2.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 32 | 1.9% |
| #3 | Missouri | | 24 | 1.4% |
| #4 | Tennessee | | 17 | 1.0% |
| #5 | Indiana | | 15 | 0.9% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 12 | 0.7% |
| #7 | California | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Iowa | | 5 | 0.3% |
Oklahoma share of Lakota's total US births 2.9%
Even split
49 of 1,689 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Lakota appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lakota? ▼
Lakota has been given to 1,689 babies in the U.S. since 1983, according to SSA data. Among girls, it ranks #5074 as of the latest data. 80 babies were born in 1997, its single highest year.
When was Lakota most popular? ▼
Lakota was most popular in the 2000s decade with 521 total births. The single peak year was 1997.
Where is Lakota most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lakota are Oklahoma (49 births), Texas (32 births), Missouri (24 births).
Is Lakota a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lakota is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,689 births, and as a boy's name it has 1,556 births.
How long has the name Lakota been used? ▼
Lakota has been recorded in Social Security data since 1983, spanning 43 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Lakota? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lakeisha, Lakisha, Lakesha, Laken, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Lakota's data
- Lakota's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (521 total births) through the 2020s (215) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Oklahoma records the most Lakotas (49 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Oklahoma 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 Lakota
Nearby Names Like Lakota
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lakota
Lakeisha Girl
#10442 12,850 births
Lakisha Girl
12,310 births
Lakesha Girl
8,168 births
Laken Girl
#1222 6,240 births
Lakeshia Girl
4,710 births
Compare Lakota side by side: Lakota vs Lakeisha Lakota vs Lakisha Lakota vs Lakesha
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Lakota
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1983–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lakota: #5074 Unisex Name - 1,689 Births, Peak 1997." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lakota. 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 Lakota 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 July 2026.