Dakota

I like this name for boys and girls.

I like my name, some nicknames I get called is DJ or Kota.

I like this name a lot, actually. Dakota is a very cool name for anyone, regardless of gender.

A cool name for anyone.

Cooler on a boy imo. Seems like I'm in the minority saying this but it's so unique on a boy and if you wanna call him something more masculine, use Cody as a nickname.

I like it better for a girl, but having it on either gender is fine.

To be honest? I really like this name for a boy. It sounds handsome. I feel neutral for it on a girl.

Super cute but I wouldn't use it. Sounds better on a boy.

Interesting and strange, because it feels like a name for a young female, but also for an old male, doesn't seem it would fit much for someone middle aged despite being used for both genders. Nothing much to say about this name. Not of my favorites.

Only for a girl.

The name Dakota is not offensive to anyone. People named Dakota that are still around today probably have nothing to do with all the bad things that happened to Indian tribes. Plus, maybe naming a child Dakota is a way of respecting the Indian tribes, showing that you respect their culture by using one of their names. Also, the name means "friend", which is always something nice. It isn't TOO common of a name, but kind of common.

Loveeeee! But associated to elderly ladies!

I've never liked this name on a boy. Sounds too girly and feminine.

I for one agree with the commenter, I think Dakota is a very pretty girl's name.

Dakota is suitable for masculine and feminine. Don't listen to the commenter below me.

I really love this one. Especially for a girl.

Awful ugly American name. Appropriated from a Native American nation there is no respect of course. Americans do not care who they offend as long as it isn't black people. A disgusting wasteful, meaningless American name. Sounds ugly and stupid for both boys and girls. It only sounds appropriate for the Native American nation. Americans THINK before you name your kid! And Americans defending its appropriation "Oh well I am using it as a place name." A place name?! You cannot name your kid after someone meaningful in history you need to use a place name. OH I named my kid Las Vegas because we love gambling there. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! GET SOME CULTURE look up what ethnicity you are- study the folklore then name your kid a decent name! I am grateful my parents are Europeans, we all moved back to Europe. No one names their children ridiculous names. In fact it is illegal in France to name your HUMAN child after a place.

For starters, I find the user whose name is "beautiful deerdrah" to be just the opposite of their identity. A name that is advertised as beautiful and elegant is only as such as the one who bears it. By uttering idiocracies and hatred you are tarnishing the name given to you, one that by definition is in fact esteemed in elegance. However, you clearly do not understand the true meaning or usage of the name, nor do you care since you seem to claim that American narcissism and selfishness are to blame. For starters, I am a descendant of Native Americans. With this said, my heritage and bloodline does not change the fact that I was born in America, making me American by definition. When I was born, my parents decided on my name due to the fact that instead of crying when I was born, I was instead smiling and giggling like babies do. Therefore, my friendly demeanor and love of new life inspired my name to be one that translates as ally. Also, just to clarify, my lineage trails back to the Sioux/Lakota people. So, while I am not of the Dakota subculture of Sioux, my lineage is very closely tied. So, tell me Deerdrah, is my name a useless, offensive, place name used by Americans to appropriate to my culture? Have I used my name to appropriate my own lineage and offend my ancestors? Should my parents have thought more before naming their child after a symbol of friendship in unity? I feel like in today's world we need more unity and friendship, and you are a textbook example of what happens when such attributes are lacking. With this said, I am not angry with you, since I do not hold ill will toward others, it would be both futile and pointless. In fact, I am excited to meet others with my name as most of them do not know the meaning behind it. I will even tell you first hand that I am NOT offended by their use of the name, nor are my ancestors. Also, just for some education, the states that you referred to and made your Las Vegas reference to prove, being North and South Dakota, were named after the tribe. They were named after the Dakota people who settled there. So naming one Dakota after a "place" as you put it is still naming one after the principles and guidance from my ancestors. So please, before you assume hatred and malice is the catalyst for an event, look to Wakan Tanka and give praise. Ask for guidance as my people did, and the truth will be shown to you. Tókša akhé.

Wow how mature. You could have simply explained that it was cultural appropriation instead of insulting an entire country of people you have never even met a citizen of and acting like a literal screaming child that has never been disciplined. I am Irish too and your name is not "the most beautiful and most musical" as you seem to see yourself above everyone else because you've clearly never been told otherwise. You have no fricken idea how many other things are culturally appropriated yet you seem so adamant about insulting people who are alive today and aren't even responsible for its appropriation to begin with. I suggest you learn to not speak over actual Native Americans that are affected by its appropriation and learn more about how many other things are appropriated along with the name.

This is my name but I did not know it came from my Indian heritage but I think it is cool.

Sounds completely masculine to me. It’s very exotic and unique, I like this name.

Hello to all you Dakota's out there, my name is Dakota and I have had mixed feelings about having this name because I always thought it was a girl's name. But after I did my research I saw that it was unisex. When people would ask me what my name is I would say Dakota of course and they would say that my name is a cool name. I didn't know why until I researched more. I found out that Dakota means friend, friendly, and allies.

This is my name and I am a guy. I hate it, you should too.

I really hate this name it sounds so terrible.

I think Dakota is a cute name, but I cannot imagine it as a guy's name...

I am an adult female named Dakota. I have mixed feelings about having this name. I get a lot of "are you North or South?" jokes, but I also get a lot of compliments on the name. Back when I was in school, teachers always expected me to be a boy, but maybe times have changed since then (it probably doesn't help that my family calls me Cody). To add onto that, I am white, and I have met Native Americans who don't seem to get offended that my name is Dakota. It seems that they enjoy the fact that Caucasians appreciate their heritage. Dakota means 'friend' in their language.

I feel like Dakota is one of those rare names that I feel is truly unisex. I could see either a boy or a girl having this name. I do think it sounds very nice, although having it being associated with the two states is a bit weird. I know a dog with this name and she is the most friendly and playful, happy thing! But it works for a person too (:

I grew up around a boy called Dakota that has always gone by Ducky. Always. He's 20 years old and still only goes by Ducky because "how can anybody get mad at a guy called Ducky?"
I think that nickname is so sweet for Dakota but I understand that people think that's totally babyish and awful, but the one I know suits it so well.

Another “a” ending name that I potentially like for a boy. Dakota is cute for either gender. I prefer it for a girl though.

I honestly see this name more as an animal name than a human name.

I don’t see anything wrong with a Caucasian naming their baby anything they want. Clearly none of them alive today had anything to do with what happened in the past. Please grow up and stop finding stupid reasons to be offended.

My husband’s name is Dakota. If I’m being honest, I’m not overly fond of the name. It’s never rolled off my tongue in the same way the rest of his names (two middle and one last) and my names do, and I’ve always opted to call him DJ instead. Of course, I don’t think Dakota is a “bad name”, though. It just isn’t my style.

I prefer this more for a girl. But due to the popularity in 1994 it’s okay on a boy.

Dakota here, just going to give everyone else with this name a reminder that just because some people don't like the name, doesn't mean it's inherently bad, nor does it reflect poorly on you, especially if it's your birth name as opposed to one you're considering. Be your own person and if anyone thinks poorly of you based on some largely harmless aspect of yourself, especially one you didn't even choose such as your birth name, they aren't worth your time. Anyone worth knowing is going to look at all of you, not just insult individual parts you didn't necessarily even choose from behind a veil of semi-anonymity.

I find it disrespectful for Caucasian people to name their children after Indian tribes, especially considering the genocide they committed against native Americans and the fact that they have no connection to the culture. What if you meet a member of the tribe and they dislike it? Americans have no respect for other cultures sometimes, and yet they use names such as this one.

I just had my third son on Jan.18 and we named him Dakota. We knew from the time we found out we were pregnant we were going to name our baby Dakota, whether boy or girl.

At first, the name Dakota was odd because it's a state name but it has grown on me. I like it. I'm not sure I would have named either of my sons Dakota, but maybe I would have knowing Cody is a nickname. I didn't have any daughters, lol. The more I think about Dakota, the more I like it. I also don't think that the "a" makes it feminine or masculine. Using that as a guideline, does any name ending in "o" have to be male? (examples of female names ending in "o": Jo, Calypso, Consuelo, Cleo, Coco, Indigo, Indiego, Margo, Marlo, Rosario). Ezra, Hiawatha, Hosanna, Hosea, Indiana, Ilya, Ira, Juda, Joshua, Kenya, Khalifa, Krishna, Mika, Luka, Mikala, Mostafa, Moustafa, Misha, Nikita, Nikola, Ossama, Osama, Pasha, Ra, Ryota, Simba, Sheba, Shiva, Siddharta, Siddhartha, Vida and Vasilica are all examples of male names ending in "a".
Dakota Johnson and Dakota Fanning are two famous female actresses. There's nothing trashy or masculine about either Dakota.

It's an ugly name. This is my name and I hate it so much, I go by my middle name. If you name your child this, you're honestly setting them up for an annoying life. Common jokes and questions: "North or South?" "Isn't that a guy's name?" "I think of it as more of a black girl's name." "You're not Native American." "What are you, a husky?" (It's embarrassing to turn around in public when someone shouts your name only to find out that they were calling for their dog.)

---

Sure, common names pestering (I know at least 27 Jayden's) but you can't exactly make fun of them except for anything other than lack of originality. Don't set your kid up for a life of rude jerks picking on them, dodge a bullet and name them something else.

I love the name 'Dakota'!

I'm a girl named Dakota. Throughout my life so far, I've met one or two guys with the name and only one other female Dakota. It seems a lot of people on here seem to not like the name very much, but I've never really minded it.

---

I like that it's somewhat uncommon but at the same time it has a simple spelling and it's not outlandish. Usually when I tell people my name, they often compliment it. Sometimes I get "North or South?" but I've never been teased or had any negative response to my name (at least not to my face, haha). Also, I know the name's more common for guys but I've never felt my name was too masculine because it ends with an "a", which to me always has made it feel more feminine.

---

A lot of my family members call me Cody or Kota for short.

This my daughter's name. Her name is Dakota Shay and I LOVE it. I don't see her being named anything else. It fits her perfectly and I always get comments on it. She's never had a problem with it either.

Well every Dakota I've come across has been a boy, so... yeah, I really can't picture this on a girl, even with that one child star Dakota Fanning.

Why did it have such a spike of popularity in 1995? I bet it was because of some movie...

---

Anyways, this name strikes me as being feminine rather than masculine, based on the fact that it ends with an "-a".
It would sound rather strange on a guy.

I always liked the name Dakota. I named my daughter Dakotah Marie. She is not a boy, truck, state, or stripper. She is definitely her own person.

Weird that I've never heard this name as tacky before. It reminds me of nature and peace. I think it's incredibly beautiful and enchanting... tacky is any cliche names and there is nothing cliche about it. Trendy? I've never known a Dakota! Just the actress Dakota Fanning. Anyone complaining about its roots can go take a hike too. If we worried so much about that almost every name would be off limits for something.

I think this is a stupid name, just another one of those trendy, trashy names. It's quite bland sounding too.

I love the name Dakota and if I have a kid whether it's a boy or girl I want my first child to be named Dakota.

This name seems more common on males but the "a" ending suggests it's feminine.

I don't like this name. I think it's too weak and better suited for females.

I've always I thought this was more of a girl's name because it sounds more feminine than masculine, but it's actually more popular for males. I've known only one girl named Dakota and I know four guys named Dakota.

This is a unisex name which I don't like. I find Dakota to be more masculine than feminine for my taste.

My husband and I chose to name our oldest daughter Dakota Kathleen. She had a short struggle after meeting a boy named Dakota in her school. I personally still love the name and she has returned to liking it as well. Though she is a girly little girl (unlike our other daughter and I), she has such a strong personality that is always trying to find fairness that it still suits her. She has still said that she would like a girlier name, I offered for us to all start calling her Kathleen but she wants to be called HER name LOL. I personally love strong names for females. As an Amber I have a very feminine and common name so I chose to give my daughters strong, uncommon first names and feminine, common middle names.

---

Her nicknames are Kota, KoKonut, D, and Ducky. I called her Koty as a baby but she requested I no longer call her that :(

My male dog's name is Dakota. Because of that, I can't really see it as a feminine name. If I had to picture a kid with it, I get the image of a cute, black-haired little boy with deep brown eyes and pale skin. I can see how it would appear to be feminine to the majority of people, and it probably would to me if I didn't have my dog. Either way, I don't have strong opinions on it, but I slightly prefer it on a boy.

I like the name Dakota. It made it on our list for naming our son. I prefer it as a boy's name rather than a girl's, and I was really surprised to see that it's more commonly used as a girl's name.

My name is Dakota and I think it's a name that sticks. Some nicknames could be Cody or Dax for a boy or Kota or Dax for a girl as well. I think overall the name is pretty cool and it stands out in a crowd.

Most definitely a male name.
I can't even think of a female that can get away with having this as a name.
(Except maybe Dakota Fanning, and only because she's famous. Everyone knows celebrities get away with everything.)

My name is Dakota and I like it, except when people think I'm a guy because it's more common for a guy than a girl.

My name is Dakota but it is spelled differently so if you could not dis my name, I would appreciate it. I saw one comment say that it was trashy.

Today I was looking at the SSA's "beyond the top 1000", and I found that the name Dakota was given to 8 baby girls born in 1915. So it's use as a name is not entirely modern, although it was very, very rare before the nineties. I would still say it's a modern name, its just interesting to see how long ago it was in use, even if it was extremely uncommon.

I love the name Dakota. I think it's more masculine then feminine, but I like the name for both. One of my sons is named Dakota. He's a 16 year old, 6'3 and 220 lb. Football player and track and field athlete and a honors student. No one questions his masculinity and it certainly didn't hurt his self-esteem. It's about how you raise the child... not what you name them.

Strange: The first time I met someone with this name I thought, "You're supposed to be a state." It seemed quite odd as a name. Now it's growing on me. I have met both males and females with this name, but find it distinctly male. The only kind of girl I can picture with this name is a really out-doorsy, tom-boyish, horse-loving girl--possibly this comes from Dakota Fanning. This is one of the few D names that even sound remotely appealing to me.

I am sick of this name. I've encountered it plenty of times. First of all, it's the name of two states and a Native American tribe. North and South Dakota really don't have much to offer (except for outdoors types, I suppose). It's really tacky to name your kid after an American state, especially if you aren't American. As for the tribe thing - it's like naming your kid Mexican. Second, it sounds like a really wimpy name for a boy. Though it's not much better on a girl. Please, pick something else!

This is my name and I am a girl. I am perfectly fine with the fact that you hear about more guys having this name instead of girls. I believe that this name is very suitable for me because I am a tom-boy. So I believe this is a good name for non-girly girls and boys.

Dakota is my name, and I've personally always liked it. I'm a female and though I've met several male Dakota's I've always felt that this name is more feminine because it ends in an "a". I know I'm biased, but I like my name a lot and get complimented on it frequently. I've never been made fun of for it. However, sometimes people have difficulty spelling it, which I find strange because it's just spelled just like the states. Some nicknames are D, Kota, or Cody. Young children often call me "Daka" or "Kota". Alternate spelling: Dakotah.

I know this is wicked tacky, but if I ever have to name a kid after a state, it would be this: Dakota Rose, and Kansas Violet. Maybe even a Montana Orchid. I like state names combined with flower names (for girls, of course). I like weird names. :)

My name is Dakota and I'm a girl. I always hear of guys named Dakota and people tell me it's a boys name. Personally, I like my name. I don't understand how it sounds masculine because it ends in an "a" and usually I think that makes them sound very feminine.

I think Dakota is a cute name for a little girl. But I am not exactly sure that I would want to use it on any future child of mine because I grew up with a dog named Dakota. That would just be a little weird.

My fiancee's name is Dakota. I always thought this name sounded feminine, but now, since I'm marrying a 5'10 gorgeous guy named Dakota, it's unshakably masculine for me. I can't say I would have used it, but for him, it works. He goes by Dak with some friends.

Haha this is a great name! I haven't heard of one Native American disapproving of this name, and even if they did, well we DO have states called North and South Dakota. Not unlike naming you kid Florida, or Georgia.

---

"Would I name my kid French or Polish?"
I'll name my kid whatever I want. Would you name your kid Apple, or Jesus, or May, June, April, Monday, Clementine? Every name is derived from something, regardless of it were meant to be an actual proper name or not.

---

All in all, I personally love this name. I've only met one Dakota, but he's so nice it's hard to have any bad thoughts surrounding him.

Definitely more feminine. I like it.

The one Dakota I've known was a former co-worker's pet German Shepherd. I'm not a fan of the name either way, but at least it sounds a little better on a dog. On a human it sounds incredibly tacky and trashy, and smacks of cultural ignorance and insensitivity. If you wouldn't name a kid Japanese or Canadian, why pull random names of Native American tribes? People from the Dakota tribe wouldn't name their kids Dakota, and anyone who wants to use this name because s/he feels some sort of connection to or interest in the Dakota tribe, instead of because it's some cutesy fad, would be better served by using an actual Dakota name, not the name of the tribe itself.

Tacky on an American child but my eyes practically roll out of their sockets on seeing it used outside of the US. It such a cheap fad name.

This should not be used as a name. No one within the tribe this name comes from is named Dakota. Would you name your kid French or Polish? I thought so.

I think it's fine that it's the name of a Native American tribe, and that it's unisex. But it sounds like a dog's name to me, not a person's.

My middle name is Dakota and I love it. My grandpa actually calls me this more than Katie, which is my first name. And when I was a flower girl in a wedding when I was little, the ring bearer was named Dakota. So it can be masculine or feminine, it just depends what you think.

Because of the 'a' at the end, I think this name is somewhat more suitable for girls. I wouldn't use it for either sex, though, as I find place names to be tacky. They sound weird in the places themselves, they always have associations related to the place, and a lot of times, they have no connection to the bearer of the name, which kind of defeat the purpose of using the name. It may even happen that the child will not end up liking the place. This isn't the prettiest name out there either.

I don't see why using the name would be an insult to the Dakota people. Even if it isn't common to name a child Dakota among them - why shouldn't we do?
To me, it's more like an honoring gesture than an insult.

---

Furthermore, I don't get the argument about Dakota not being an actual name. Well, we made it one. It's no silly name without any significance but a name that originates from the Dakota, so to me, it's more sensible than any so-called "kreatyve" spelling of very ordinary names.

---

And what is more, the page someone above referred to says:
"It is the name of a Sioux tribe, and no one within the tribe is called "Dakota" for their first name, as this is not culturally appropriate."
--> So what? They don't have to call their children Dakota. But we can do it as we have another culture.

---

"It also does not mean "friend." It is a plural noun meaning 'the allies.' Naming your child this would be like naming him or her 'Frenchmen.'"
--> Again: what's the thing about that? So - it means "the allies". Well, every name has got a meaning, be it good or rather bad.

I thought this name would be perfect for a character in a story I'm writing. The character actually happens to be a cougress cub (yes, I did make up the word "cougress"). It's a very American name, and thus it would fit a very American child/character/animal.

I used to know this really sweet guy named Dakota, so I alyways use this name for a boy.

Dakota is my friend's name and she absolutely hates it! She goes by Cody. I personally don't think that it's that bad, even though it isn't my favorite name. I also know a set of twin boys who are named Dakota and Montana.

It's a perfectly good name with a nice meaning.

Dakota is my name, I like it because it is unique.

I love this name for a girl. The A ending seems to suggest a girl.

This name is nice, but I have a problem with unisex names. I'm not sure if this is more for a boy or a girl.

Dakota is a nice name, but the only Dakota I've known was my friend's older sister. I really like this name, though!

This name is atrocious. It's tacky sounding, trendy and just plain awful. Thank goodness it's popularity is dwindling!

Dakota isn't a name I personally would choose, not that there is anything wrong it. To me it does sound very masculine.

I really like this name. I don't see how you can get trashy out of this name. Heather Locklear's daughter Dakota Fanning (Up Town Girls).

I think "tacky" is a more apt description than "trashy". If you are a member of a Dakota tribe then it's your perogative if you name your baby this, otherwise, show some self-respect for your own culture instead of cheapening it. Anyway, it's not like Heather Locklear is some icon of refinement!

How can using the name of a Native American tribe be a grave insult to Native Americans? How is this name "trashy"? Is it trashy as belonging to the Dakota people, or only to a kid named Dakota? Now that is the most screwed up logic I have ever encountered.

---

By the way, Dakota Fanning is not Heather Locklear's daughter. She played her daughter. Heather Locklear does, however, have a daughter named Ava.

This is a suitable name for an adult film star or a stripper. It's rather trendy and low-class, and a grave insult to our Native American friends.

If you think that this name is for a stripper you are insane. Sorry. Just answer 1 question: how is it grave to our Native Americans? I'm Native American and it isn't grave to me.

Dakota is more of a male name in my opinion. The only Dakota I know is a 6-foot, 230 pound goth with a mohawk. But he's an awesome person!

I dislike this name. It is a common name for livestock in my area and in my opinion a little 'trashy'.