"friend, ally, those who are friendly"
Origin: Lakota/Dakota Sioux
Language: Lakota
Dakoda
Does Dakoda flow with your last name?
A Great Plains name meaning friend and ally
Native American
American
Earthy
Bold
Modern
Strong
Unique
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Dakoda
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Dakoda
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Dakoda
See all →What the Dakoda report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Dakoda the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Dakoda
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Dakoda head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Dakoda actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Dakoda
Dakoda is an alternate spelling of Dakota, from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux word meaning friends, allies, or those who are friendly. The Dakota people are one of the three major divisions of the Sioux Nation, and their name reflects a core cultural value of community and alliance. The spelling with a k rather than a t gives it a slightly more distinctive look while preserving the original sound.
Dakota exploded in popularity after the 1994 film North (which featured a character named Dakota) and has remained a fixture of American naming. The -koda ending also appears in the animated film Brother Bear, where Koda is a lovable bear cub, making Dakoda a name familiar to a generation of parents. It peaked as a unisex name in the early 2000s.
The name comes from the Dakota and Lakota peoples, who are indigenous to the Great Plains of North America. Their cultural values of friendship, alliance, and communal living are embedded in the name itself. The states of North and South Dakota are named after these peoples.
Historical Record
Dakoda first appeared in US Social Security records in 1991.
Over 889 babies have been named Dakoda in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Dakoda is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #4,895 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The Lakota word dakota means ally or friend, reflecting core values of the Sioux Nation
- The states North and South Dakota were named after the Dakota Sioux people
- The name Dakota/Dakoda is one of the most popular gender-neutral names in American history
Dakoda in Other Languages
French
Dakoda
Lakota
Dakota (ally, friend)
English
Dakoda
Spanish
Dakoda
Japanese
ダコダ
Popularity Over Time
#4,895
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Dakoda
D
Dakota Fanning
Actor
1994
American actress who began her career as a child and starred in War of the Worlds and many other films
D
Dakota Johnson
Actor
1989
American actress known for Fifty Shades of Grey and daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson
K
Koda Fictional
Other
The bear cub protagonist in Disney animated film Brother Bear, whose name shares the Koda root
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Ryanne
Girl
"descendant of the king"
#4,840
Codie
Girl
"helpful one"
#4,830
Malanie
Girl
"dark, black"
#4,818
Darah
Girl
"oak tree"
#4,948
Jru
Girl
"invented phonetic name"
#4,914
Compare Dakoda with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #4,895
- Total SSA Count
- 27
- Cultural Origins
- Native American American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Koda
Dak
Kody
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, American heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, American heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Dakoda
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Dakoda fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Dakoda is also used as a boy name, ranked #2006.
View Dakoda as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Dakoda →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Dakoda with...
Same Origin Names (Native American)
See all Native American names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Dakoda
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Dakoda and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Dakoda sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Ryanne
Girl
Irish origin
"descendant of the king"
#4,840 in US
Codie
Girl
Irish origin
"helpful one"
#4,830 in US
Malanie
Girl
Greek origin
"dark, black"
#4,818 in US
Darah
Girl
Irish Gaelic origin
"oak tree"
#4,948 in US
Jru
Girl
American English origin
"invented phonetic name"
#4,914 in US
Kamyra
Girl
Persian/American blend origin
"sun, powerful one"
#4,994 in US
Jalisa
Girl
American origin
"noble and devoted to God (possible in..."
#4,846 in US
Avamarie
Girl
Hebrew/Latin origin
"beloved, wished-for child"
#4,878 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Dakoda's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dakoda
What does the name Dakoda mean?
"friend, ally, those who are friendly" (from Lakota/Dakota Sioux). Dakoda is an alternate spelling of Dakota, from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux word meaning friends, allies, or those who are friendly. The Dakota people are one of the three major divisions of the Sioux Nation, and their name reflects a core cultural value of community and alliance. The spelling with a k rather than a t gives it a slightly more distinctive look while preserving the original sound.
What is the origin of the name Dakoda?
Dakoda has Lakota/Dakota Sioux, Native American, and American origins. In Lakota/Dakota Sioux, it means "friend, ally, those who are friendly".
Is Dakoda a boy or girl name?
Dakoda is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #4895. As a boy name, it is ranked #2006. Dakoda is more commonly used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Dakoda?
Dakoda is currently ranked #4895 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Dakoda?
Common nicknames for Dakoda include Koda, Dak, and Kody.
What are good middle names for Dakoda?
Popular middle name pairings include Dakoda Rose, Dakoda Lynn, Dakoda Grace, Dakoda Mae, Dakoda Skye, and Dakoda June.
What are good sibling names for Dakoda?
Names that pair well with Dakoda as siblings include Cheyenne, Sierra, Savannah, Wyatt, Colt, and Wade.
How many syllables does Dakoda have?
Dakoda has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Dakoda a common or rare name?
Dakoda is an uncommon name, ranked #4895 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Dakoda?
About the Name Dakoda
Dakoda is a girl name with Native American and American origins . The name means "friend, ally, those who are friendly" in Lakota/Dakota Sioux .
Is Dakoda a boy or girl name? Dakoda is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #4,895 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #2,006. Dakoda is more commonly used as a boy name.
Dakoda is currently ranked #4,895 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Dakoda has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Dakoda include Koda, Dak, and Kody. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Dakoda include Dakota, Dakotah . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Lakota/Dakota Sioux Names
Browse all names with this origin
D
Names Starting with D
More girl names like Dakoda
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis