Dakota - Name Meaning and Origin

The boy's and girl's name Dakota \d(a)-ko-ta\ is pronounced da-KOH-tah. It is of Native American Indian origin, and its meaning is "friend, ally". Tribal name and American place name: the word may be Sioux for "allies", or possibly "forever smiling".

Dakota has 2 variant forms: Dakoda and Dakotah.

Dakota is an uncommon female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Dakota. Click here to compare Dakota with related baby names.