Dawn

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAWN /ˈdɔn/Medium

Meaning: English word name meaning 'dawn, daybreak, first appearance of light', from Old English 'dagung' (from 'dæg', day).Medium

In 30 seconds: Dawn is an English word name for daybreak, from Old English 'dagung', the first light of morning.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningEnglish word name meaning 'dawn, daybreak, first appearance of light', from Old English 'dagung' (from 'dæg', day).

U.S. rank (2025)#2174 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births85 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 289,637

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

Dawn is a plain English word name meaning the break of day, first appearance of light. It traces to Old English 'dagung', formed on 'dæg', day, so the name literally captures the moment morning begins. As a given name it became a gentle, optimistic nature word for girls.

Its single crisp syllable makes it one of the more direct word names, all image and no embellishment. Bearers include the basketball coach Dawn Staley and the actress Dawn Wells.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Dawn is 'dawn, daybreak, first light', from Old English dagung, and that fresh, hopeful image is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Dawn — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Dawn Staley (1970–present)
Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
★Dawn Wells (1938–2020)
Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Dawn…

Aurora— A name meaning dawn, sharing Dawn's daybreak imagery

Roxana— A name tied to dawn and light, echoing Dawn's meaning

Daisy— Another short English nature word name with a fresh, bright feel

Dove— shares Dawn's English roots

Layne— another nature pick

Explore names like Dawn

By themeenglish nature

By meaningLight Dawn / Morning

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dawn mean?

Dawn means 'dawn, daybreak, first light', from Old English dagung. It is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Dawn?

It's commonly said DAWN /ˈdɔn/.

Is Dawn a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Dawn is used as a girl name.

How popular is Dawn?

In 2024, Dawn ranked #1850 in the U.S. for girls, with 108 births recorded.