Dan

Dan is a boy's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 82 boys in the United States.

Dan at a glance

Gender
Boy name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/dæn/

About the name Dan

Dan belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Dan first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #86 in 1881, and in 2024 82 babies received the name — 106,473 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Dan in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#86 in 1881
Peak year
1960
Babies named Dan in 2024
82
Total since 1880
106,473

Dan in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#476 in 1997
Babies named Dan in 2025
26
Total since 1996
849

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Dan mean?

The meaning of Dan is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Dan a boy or girl name?

Dan is a boy name. In 2024, 82 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Dan?

Dan comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Dan?

Dan first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #86 in 1881, and 82 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Dan?

Dan is pronounced /dæn/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.