Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Dane
BoyEnglish· “a Dane, from Denmark”
- Meaning
- a Dane, from Denmark
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- DAYN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #821
- US babies 2025
- 301
- Best rank
- #221 (1986)
- Peak year
- 1986
Meaning and origin of Dane
Dane is an English name that is usually said to mean “a Dane, from Denmark”.
Dane comes from an English surname that usually referred to someone from Denmark, a legacy of the Danish settlement in medieval England. In some cases it may come instead from the Old English denu, meaning valley, so the precise sense depends on the family. As a first name Dane is short and strong, used mostly for boys in the United States. It has a clean, one-syllable sound that suits longer surnames. The name also recalls Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, called the Dane in Shakespeare's play. Dane needs no nickname.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dayne, Dain.
Popularity over time
Dane first appears in US Social Security records in 1898. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 81 different years, starting in 1945. Its best national rank was #221 in 1986, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,069 babies. In 2025, 301 babies were named Dane, and it ranked #821 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,065 in 1920, #550 in 1950, #468 in 1980, #423 in 2000, #411 in 2010, and #821 in 2025. Of the 33,593 US boys named Dane since records began, 20% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 6,784 babies. Since 2010, 6,066 more have been named Dane.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Orlando, Antoine, and Ross.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dane ranked highest in Hawaii, Utah, and Idaho.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | #228 | 5 |
| Utah | #334 | 14 |
| Idaho | #341 | 7 |
| New Mexico | #376 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #531 | 18 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Dane is usually pronounced DAYN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with D and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dayne and Dain.
Middle names for Dane
A few middle names that flow with Dane: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dane
Similar names
Stone Boy
STOHN
“stone” · English
#916
Zane Boy
ZAYN
English
#324
Lane Boy
LAYN
“narrow path” · English
#250
Zayne Boy
ZAYN
“variant of Zane or Zayn” · English
#473
Wayne Boy
WAYN
“wagon maker, carter” · English
#655
Boone Boy
BOON
“good; or from Bohon, Normandy” · English
#423
Shane Boy
SHAYN
“God is gracious” · Irish
#636
Chase Boy
CHAYS
“hunter” · English
#192
Cole Boy
KOHL
“from an English surname” · English
#182
Jake Boy
JAYK
“short form of Jacob” · English
#457
Mark Boy
MAHRK
“probably dedicated to Mars” · Latin
#245
Dean Boy
DEEN
“valley; church official” · English
#125
Lists that include Dane
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dane mean?
Dane is an English name that is usually said to mean “a Dane, from Denmark”.
What is the origin of the name Dane?
Dane has English roots. Dane comes from an English surname that usually referred to someone from Denmark, a legacy of the Danish settlement in medieval England.
Is Dane a popular name?
Yes. Dane ranked #821 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Dane a boy or girl name?
Dane is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Dane?
Dane is usually pronounced DAYN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings