Given name
Dekota
“a friend to all”
Dekota is a variant of Dakota. One Native American interpretation is “a friend to all.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Dekota is a variant of Dakota. One Native American interpretation is “a friend to all.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Dekota is a variant of Dakota. An origin associated with Dakota is Native American.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1959. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Dekota through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,194
- 845 boys · 349 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 59 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #7,303 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,303 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 10.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 51 in 1995. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,000 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Dekota, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Devine
“resembling an ox” · “of the divine”
50% boys · 50% girls
Daley
“of the assembly”
36% boys · 64% girls
Carrington
“a beautiful woman; a woman of Carrington” · “from the rocky town”
32% boys · 68% girls
Micha
“who is like God?”
72% boys · 28% girls
Carlin
“a free woman” · “a free man”
51% boys · 49% girls
Keelin
“a lively and bright-headed woman” · “a slender and beautiful woman”
56% boys · 44% girls
Shaye
“a gift of God” · “a gift from God”
42% boys · 58% girls
Nima
“blessed by God”
55% boys · 45% girls