Given name & surname
Dany
“he judged”·“God is my judge”
Dany is a variant of Dan. One Hebrew interpretation is “he judged.” In French use, Dany is a diminutive of Daniel. Daniel means “God is my judge” in Hebrew.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Dany is a variant of Dan. One Hebrew interpretation is “he judged.” In French use, Dany is a diminutive of Daniel. Daniel means “God is my judge” in Hebrew. In French use, Dany is a diminutive of Danielle. In Hebrew use, Danielle carries the interpretation “God is my judge.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In French use, Dany is a diminutive of Daniel. Daniel is a Hebrew biblical name used in Jewish naming traditions and in languages including English, French, German, Polish, and Czech.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French use, Dany is used as an affectionate form of Daniele. In French use, Dany is a diminutive of Daniel. The shared background comes through Daniel: Daniel’s Hebrew meaning has remained closely tied to its biblical identity. In Ireland, Daniel has also served as an English-language substitute for Gaelic Domhnall, a separate historical use.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1946. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Dany is a variant of Dan. The history of Dan gives this family its wider story. Dan appears in biblical tradition, giving it a longstanding religious and cultural context. In French use, Dany is a diminutive of Daniel. The history of Daniel gives this family its wider story. The biblical Daniel is remembered for interpreting dreams and surviving the lions’ den. His story was a favourite subject of medieval miracle plays, giving the name a life in performance as well as scripture.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Dany through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,541
- 1,430 boys · 111 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 46 babies
- 2025
- 36
- #3,257 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +14%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 36 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,257 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 13.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 46 in 2008. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,158 as a first name in 2020; 162 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Dany’s family of names
In French usage, Dany is a diminutive of Daniel. Dany has a related form in Danielle. In French usage, Dany is a shortened form of Daniel.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Dany has relatives in 3 languages.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Dany
- Dany BoonFrench actor, screenwriter and film directorborn 1966
- Dany NounkeuCameroonian footballerborn 1986
- Dany HeatleyCanadian ice hockey playerborn 1981
- Dany RobinFrench actress (1927–1995)
- Anne AlvaroFrench actressborn 1951
- Dany VerlindenBelgian footballerborn 1963
- Dany ChamounLebanese politician (1934-1990)
- Dany VerissimoFrench actressborn 1982
- Dany BrillantFrench singerborn 1965
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Dany, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Abran
“father of a multitude (of nations)” · “father of a multitude; father of nations”
>99% boys
Ab
“father of light” · “father of the light”
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Adan
“man” · “of the earth”
99% boys · 1% girls
Aron
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>99% boys
Javan
“mire” · “mud man”
>99% boys
Danilo
“God is my judge”
>99% boys
Efren
“one who is tertile; productive”
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Lazar
“leper”
>99% boys