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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dan

Dan

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAN /ˈdæn/High

Meaning: Dan is a Hebrew name meaning 'he judged' — one of the sons of Jacob and the tribe named for him. In English it is above all the short form of Daniel ('God is my judge'). It is used here for a girl, but it is overwhelmingly a boy's name, and we flag that clearly.Medium

In 30 seconds: One clean beat: Dan is Hebrew for 'he judged', and in English the short form of Daniel (said 'DAN'). It is overwhelmingly a boy's name — we flag the lean plainly.
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Origin MediumHebrew, English
MeaningDan is a Hebrew name meaning 'he judged' — one of the sons of Jacob and the tribe named for him. In English it is above all the short form of Daniel ('God is my judge'). It is used here for a girl, but it is overwhelmingly a boy's name, and we flag that clearly.
U.S. rank (2023)#15733 ↘ Falling
2023 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1928
Total births (all-time)≈ 566

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192819062023

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dan is a Hebrew name meaning 'he judged'. In the Hebrew Bible it belongs to a son of Jacob and to the tribe named after him. In English use, Dan has served for centuries as the short form of Daniel, 'God is my judge'. Given here to a girl, it runs strongly against the grain: Dan is overwhelmingly a boys' name in the U.S., and we flag that plainly so families choose with open eyes (said 'DAN').

For girls it is very rare in the U.S., against heavy boys' use. Short, plain, and forthright.

Did you know? In the Hebrew Bible, Dan is a son of Jacob and the father of one of the twelve tribes of Israel; the name means 'he judged'. In everyday English it is the short form of Daniel, and it is very much a boy's name, which we flag (said 'DAN').
Overall data confidence 65%
References — Dan — Hebrew 'he judged'; short form of Daniel; predominantly male

Variations

DannaDanaDanielle

Nicknames

DannyDani

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dan…

Danielle— the feminine name Dan most often shortens
Dana— a like short D- pick used for girls
Danica— shares the Dan- opening
Dina— another crisp one-and-two beat choice

Explore names like Dan

By themehebrewbiblicalshortcross-sex

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dan mean?

Dan is Hebrew for 'he judged' — a son of Jacob and a tribe of Israel. In English it is the short form of Daniel.

How do you pronounce Dan?

It's said DAN /ˈdæn/ — one syllable.

Is Dan a boy or girl name?

Dan is overwhelmingly a boy's name and the short form of Daniel. It is used here for a girl, and we flag that lean plainly.

How popular is Dan?

For girls Dan is very rare in the U.S., against much heavier use for boys.

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