Dante
BoyItalian, Latin· “enduring”
- Meaning
- enduring
- Origin
- Italian, Latin
- Pronunciation
- DAHN-tay
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #308
- US babies 2025
- 1,104
- Best rank
- #200 (1997)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Dante
Dante is an Italian and Latin name that means “enduring”.
Dante is a medieval Italian short form of Durante, from the Latin durans, meaning "enduring" or "steadfast." Its fame comes from Dante Alighieri, the Florentine poet whose Divine Comedy, describing a journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise, is one of the greatest works of world literature and helped establish Italian as a literary language. The painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti later carried the name into English culture. Dante has a strong, artistic feel, and it is used widely in the United States as well as in Italy. It is short, memorable and easy to say.
Popularity over time
Dante first appears in US Social Security records in 1908. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 91 different years, starting in 1910. Its best national rank was #200 in 1997, and the most babies received it in 1998, when 1,670 were named Dante. In 2025, 1,104 babies were named Dante, and it ranked #308 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #827 in 1920, #1,145 in 1950, #418 in 1980, #248 in 2000, #255 in 2010, and #308 in 2025. Of the 51,587 US boys named Dante since records began, 24% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 11,558 babies. Since 2010, 18,068 more have been named Dante.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Tyrese, Trey, Armando, Nickolas, and Quentin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dante ranked highest in Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #186 | 6 |
| New Mexico | #198 | 10 |
| Connecticut | #211 | 16 |
| New Jersey | #212 | 45 |
| California | #217 | 171 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Dante is usually pronounced DAHN-tay, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-te”.
Middle names for Dante
A few middle names that flow with Dante: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dante
Similar names
Lists that include Dante
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dante mean?
Dante is an Italian and Latin name that means “enduring”.
What is the origin of the name Dante?
Dante has Italian and Latin roots. Dante is a medieval Italian short form of Durante, from the Latin durans, meaning "enduring" or "steadfast." Its fame comes from Dante Alighieri, the Florentine poet whose Divine Comedy, describing a journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise, is one of the greatest works of world literature and helped establish Italian as a literary language.
Is Dante a popular name?
Yes. Dante ranked #308 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Dante a boy or girl name?
Dante is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Dante?
Dante is usually pronounced DAHN-tay. 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