Dana

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAY-nuh /ˈdeɪ.nə/High

Meaning: God is my judge; from Hebrew Dan (judge) as a feminine form; also an English place-name from Old English Dene (valley)Medium

In 30 seconds: A name with multiple claimed origins — Hebrew (judge), Old English (valley), and Irish mythology (the goddess Danu). Its crisp two-syllable sound has made it a steady American given name for both boys and girls.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumHebrew, Irish, English

MeaningGod is my judge; from Hebrew Dan (judge) as a feminine form; also an English place-name from Old English Dene (valley)

U.S. rank (2025)#1027 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births244 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1971

Total births (all-time)≈ 193,555

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Dana has disputed origins: it may derive from the Hebrew Dan (judge), Old English Dene (valley dweller or from Denmark), or it may be influenced by the Irish goddess Danu (mother of the Tuatha De Danann). As a given name it is used widely in both English-speaking and Eastern European countries (where it is short for Daniela).

Dana was a top-100 U.S. girls' name from the 1960s through the 1990s. It has declined since and ranked #1077 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Dana was actually more popular as a boys' name in the U.S. until the 1970s, when it began its shift toward primarily female use — a transition pattern also seen in Ashley, Jordan, and Taylor.

Overall data confidence 76%

Behind the Name — Dana — multiple etymologiesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DaynaDaena

Nicknames

Dan

Famous Bearers

★Dana Carvey (1955–present)
American comedian and actor, known for Saturday Night Live and for his impressions of President George H.W. Bush.

If you like Dana…

Diana— Da- name with the same crisp two-syllable feel and classical heritage

Daniela— three-syllable Da- name sharing the same Dan- root

Daria— Da- name with the same simple vowel-forward sound

Dawn— one-syllable Da- name from the same mid-century naming era

Explore names like Dana

By themeenglish hebrew unisex classic irish mid-century

By meaningGod / Divine Earth / Nature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dana mean?

Dana has multiple possible origins: 'judge' from Hebrew Dan, 'valley dweller' from Old English Dene, or derived from the Irish mother-goddess Danu. The etymology is uncertain.

How do you pronounce Dana?

It's said DAY-nuh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Dana a boy or girl name?

Dana is a well-established unisex name, historically more male before shifting female from the 1970s.

How popular is Dana?

Dana ranked #1077 for U.S. girls in 2024.