The first name Dan
A boy’s name from Hebrew.
Pronounced /dæn/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 26 boys were named Dan, making it the 1,124th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2005, with 48 births (#557).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Dan with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Dan at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 78 boys born in the United States were named Dan, the 1,962nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1960, when 3,696 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Dan in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Dan in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish too.
Famous people named Dan
201 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Lin DanChinese badminton player, born 1983
- Dan SimmonsAmerican novelist (1948–2026)
- Dan BurnEnglish association football player (born 1992)
- Dan RatherAmerican broadcast journalist (born 1931)
- Dan FoglerAmerican actor, musician and filmmaker, born 1976
- Dan GoslingEnglish association football player, born 1990
- Dan BilzerianAmerican social media influencer (born 1980)
- Dan MarinoAmerican football player, quarterback, Pro Football Hall of Fame member, born 1961
- Dan Coats5th Director of National Intelligence, former United States Senator from Indiana, born 1943
- Dan DaileyAmerican actor, singer and dancer (1915–1978)
- Dan GurneyAmerican racing driver, constructor and team owner, 1931–2018
- Dan ButlerAmerican actor, born 1954
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Dan mean?
- From Hebrew דָּן (Dan).
- What is the origin of the name Dan?
- From Hebrew דָּן (Dan).
- How popular is the name Dan?
- In 2025, 26 boys born in England and Wales were named Dan, ranking 1,124th. Its peak was 2005, with 48 births.
- Is Dan a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 107,130 US babies named Dan since 1880 were boys.
- When was Dan most popular?
- 1960 in the United States, when 3,696 babies were named Dan, its highest rank at 111th.
- How do you pronounce Dan?
- Dan is /dæn/, one syllable.
- Is Dan also a surname?
- Yes. Dan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.