Fun Facts About the Name Dan
- A favorite of earlier generations: Dan appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 4 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1884 through 1884.
- More than 107 thousand babies named Dan: U.S. records list 107,127 babies given the name Dan from 1880 through 2025. Even 576 girls received the name Dan - about 1 girl for every 185 boys.
What Does the Name Dan Mean?
Dan is a Hebrew name meaning "judge" or "he has judged." It comes from the root דִּין (din), "to judge," and is built directly on the verb form meaning "he judged." In the book of Genesis, Rachel names her son by Bilhah Dan, explaining, "God has judged me" (Genesis 30:6). The name is therefore a statement about judgment rather than a description or a compound of divine names.
In English use, Dan also serves as the familiar short form of Daniel, a separate Hebrew name meaning "God is my judge." Though the two share the same root, they are distinct names: Daniel contains the divine element El ("God"), while Dan does not.
Dan Name History & Origins
In the Hebrew Bible, Dan is the fifth son of Jacob, born to Rachel's servant Bilhah, and the ancestor of the tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe's territory lay in the north of the land, and the city of Dan - earlier called Laish and renamed after the tribe (Judges 18) - became its northernmost point, giving rise to the expression "from Dan to Beersheba" for the full extent of Israel.
The name has been used in Jewish communities since antiquity. In Europe and the English-speaking world it is best known as the everyday short form of Daniel, but it also stands on its own as a given name. Because the biblical Dan and the shortened Daniel look and sound identical, a person called Dan may bear either name in full.
How Popular is the Name Dan?
Dan recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1960. Dan ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1882, then returned in 1884 and remained through 1884.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,603 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #15,733 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #10,575 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #12,444 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #13,091 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #16,355 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #12,367 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #9,683 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #11,158 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #7,245 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #7,913 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #8,548 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #7,447 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #7,630 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #6,921 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #8,350 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #9,240 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #5,635 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #9,378 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #7,900 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #8,699 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #7,482 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #6,745 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #5,928 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #5,550 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #4,849 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #6,993 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #5,942 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #6,143 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #5,996 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #6,749 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1959 | #4,705 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,986 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #4,607 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #6,133 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #3,833 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #4,756 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #5,167 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #4,097 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,474 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #3,040 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #4,276 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #3,772 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,066 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #4,126 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #4,698 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,958 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #3,526 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #3,202 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #2,724 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1935 | #2,972 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #3,217 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #3,485 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #3,333 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1931 | #2,809 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #3,113 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #3,195 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1928 | #2,032 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1927 | #2,358 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1926 | #2,599 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #3,159 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1924 | #3,009 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1923 | #4,064 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #3,731 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #2,980 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #4,052 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #2,680 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #3,576 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #4,742 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,328 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #3,288 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1906 | #2,020 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,962 | 78 | 0.0046% |
| 2024 | #1,917 | 82 | 0.0048% |
| 2023 | #1,698 | 100 | 0.0059% |
| 2022 | #1,830 | 88 | 0.0050% |
| 2021 | #1,934 | 78 | 0.0045% |
| 2020 | #1,769 | 86 | 0.0050% |
| 2019 | #1,612 | 102 | 0.0057% |
| 2018 | #1,658 | 97 | 0.0053% |
| 2017 | #1,649 | 96 | 0.0052% |
| 2016 | #1,610 | 100 | 0.0053% |
| 2015 | #1,706 | 91 | 0.0047% |
| 2014 | #1,559 | 102 | 0.0053% |
| 2013 | #1,698 | 87 | 0.0046% |
| 2012 | #1,501 | 107 | 0.0056% |
| 2011 | #1,498 | 108 | 0.0057% |
| 2010 | #1,428 | 116 | 0.0060% |
| 2009 | #1,442 | 116 | 0.0058% |
| 2008 | #1,275 | 136 | 0.0067% |
| 2007 | #1,182 | 149 | 0.0072% |
| 2006 | #1,230 | 136 | 0.0066% |
| 2005 | #1,063 | 156 | 0.0078% |
| 2004 | #1,134 | 139 | 0.0070% |
| 2003 | #1,061 | 146 | 0.0074% |
| 2002 | #1,012 | 153 | 0.0079% |
| 2001 | #1,030 | 143 | 0.0074% |
| 2000 | #933 | 163 | 0.0083% |
| 1999 | #1,009 | 139 | 0.0072% |
| 1998 | #939 | 150 | 0.0078% |
| 1997 | #857 | 165 | 0.0088% |
| 1996 | #817 | 176 | 0.0093% |
| 1995 | #820 | 171 | 0.0090% |
| 1994 | #793 | 178 | 0.0092% |
| 1993 | #716 | 208 | 0.0106% |
| 1992 | #711 | 209 | 0.0105% |
| 1991 | #669 | 230 | 0.0114% |
| 1990 | #658 | 234 | 0.0114% |
| 1989 | #646 | 240 | 0.0120% |
| 1988 | #589 | 249 | 0.0130% |
| 1987 | #599 | 231 | 0.0124% |
| 1986 | #545 | 268 | 0.0146% |
| 1985 | #537 | 264 | 0.0143% |
| 1984 | #525 | 265 | 0.0147% |
| 1983 | #500 | 280 | 0.0156% |
| 1982 | #478 | 315 | 0.0174% |
| 1981 | #435 | 362 | 0.0202% |
| 1980 | #461 | 335 | 0.0188% |
| 1979 | #447 | 329 | 0.0191% |
| 1978 | #429 | 343 | 0.0209% |
| 1977 | #402 | 378 | 0.0230% |
| 1976 | #384 | 400 | 0.0255% |
| 1975 | #369 | 448 | 0.0287% |
| 1974 | #351 | 479 | 0.0305% |
| 1973 | #305 | 573 | 0.0368% |
| 1972 | #281 | 677 | 0.0417% |
| 1971 | #250 | 902 | 0.0510% |
| 1970 | #232 | 1,021 | 0.0549% |
| 1969 | #212 | 1,159 | 0.0648% |
| 1968 | #191 | 1,271 | 0.0731% |
| 1967 | #184 | 1,329 | 0.0762% |
| 1966 | #174 | 1,538 | 0.0862% |
| 1965 | #155 | 1,991 | 0.1070% |
| 1964 | #139 | 2,369 | 0.1189% |
| 1963 | #124 | 2,823 | 0.1390% |
| 1962 | #120 | 3,115 | 0.1506% |
| 1961 | #115 | 3,417 | 0.1609% |
| 1960 | #111 | 3,697 | 0.1734% |
| 1959 | #110 | 3,675 | 0.1722% |
| 1958 | #109 | 3,693 | 0.1740% |
| 1957 | #121 | 3,194 | 0.1481% |
| 1956 | #133 | 2,437 | 0.1152% |
| 1955 | #136 | 2,304 | 0.1119% |
| 1954 | #139 | 2,153 | 0.1056% |
| 1953 | #139 | 2,166 | 0.1098% |
| 1952 | #129 | 2,311 | 0.1189% |
| 1951 | #136 | 1,992 | 0.1058% |
| 1950 | #129 | 2,085 | 0.1165% |
| 1949 | #125 | 2,279 | 0.1285% |
| 1948 | #113 | 2,495 | 0.1422% |
| 1947 | #109 | 2,702 | 0.1477% |
| 1946 | #116 | 2,194 | 0.1351% |
| 1945 | #127 | 1,726 | 0.1282% |
| 1944 | #144 | 1,488 | 0.1092% |
| 1943 | #139 | 1,538 | 0.1078% |
| 1942 | #147 | 1,344 | 0.0973% |
| 1941 | #152 | 1,154 | 0.0940% |
| 1940 | #155 | 1,097 | 0.0946% |
| 1939 | #161 | 996 | 0.0900% |
| 1938 | #156 | 1,040 | 0.0938% |
| 1937 | #149 | 1,033 | 0.0968% |
| 1936 | #155 | 965 | 0.0930% |
| 1935 | #151 | 1,015 | 0.0975% |
| 1934 | #154 | 939 | 0.0909% |
| 1933 | #153 | 938 | 0.0946% |
| 1932 | #164 | 922 | 0.0883% |
| 1931 | #164 | 882 | 0.0848% |
| 1930 | #165 | 899 | 0.0819% |
| 1929 | #175 | 800 | 0.0744% |
| 1928 | #164 | 908 | 0.0820% |
| 1927 | #161 | 923 | 0.0819% |
| 1926 | #167 | 880 | 0.0792% |
| 1925 | #184 | 772 | 0.0692% |
| 1924 | #179 | 800 | 0.0706% |
| 1923 | #188 | 730 | 0.0666% |
| 1922 | #174 | 806 | 0.0741% |
| 1921 | #192 | 717 | 0.0651% |
| 1920 | #185 | 764 | 0.0718% |
| 1919 | #174 | 748 | 0.0763% |
| 1918 | #184 | 710 | 0.0701% |
| 1917 | #198 | 595 | 0.0643% |
| 1916 | #192 | 594 | 0.0667% |
| 1915 | #192 | 578 | 0.0681% |
| 1914 | #192 | 447 | 0.0683% |
| 1913 | #182 | 374 | 0.0730% |
| 1912 | #194 | 298 | 0.0693% |
| 1911 | #164 | 205 | 0.0907% |
| 1910 | #164 | 188 | 0.0968% |
| 1909 | #154 | 163 | 0.0994% |
| 1908 | #155 | 152 | 0.0985% |
| 1907 | #144 | 160 | 0.1090% |
| 1906 | #155 | 128 | 0.0961% |
| 1905 | #140 | 152 | 0.1149% |
| 1904 | #136 | 156 | 0.1218% |
| 1903 | #125 | 155 | 0.1300% |
| 1902 | #148 | 124 | 0.1011% |
| 1901 | #140 | 117 | 0.1099% |
| 1900 | #121 | 192 | 0.1276% |
| 1899 | #134 | 119 | 0.1120% |
| 1898 | #142 | 125 | 0.1019% |
| 1897 | #140 | 115 | 0.1020% |
| 1896 | #129 | 133 | 0.1112% |
| 1895 | #164 | 96 | 0.0818% |
| 1894 | #138 | 114 | 0.0985% |
| 1893 | #115 | 143 | 0.1273% |
| 1892 | #114 | 156 | 0.1278% |
| 1891 | #122 | 113 | 0.1117% |
| 1890 | #104 | 160 | 0.1441% |
| 1889 | #119 | 116 | 0.1049% |
| 1888 | #109 | 154 | 0.1274% |
| 1887 | #102 | 140 | 0.1381% |
| 1886 | #102 | 154 | 0.1390% |
| 1885 | #108 | 129 | 0.1197% |
| 1884 | #100 | 151 | 0.1319% |
| 1883 | #109 | 120 | 0.1147% |
| 1882 | #97 | 150 | 0.1319% |
| 1881 | #86 | 148 | 0.1469% |
| 1880 | #98 | 140 | 0.1267% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
