Meaning, origin, history
The exact origin of this name is not established with certainty.
Meaning of the name Dana
Scholars do not fully agree on this interpretation. No established etymology connects Dana to Dáithí, Hebrew sources, or the Gaelic word dán.
Origin of the name Dana
Historical documentation does not support a direct link between the name Dana and medieval Irish patronymic surnames or the Gaelic adaptation of David.
History of the name Dana
There is insufficient documentation linking the independent use of Dana as a given name to Irish genealogical records or nineteenth-century anglicization processes.
Variants and related forms
- No established variants are directly linked to this etymology.
Cultural heritage
Claims linking Dana to Irish literary traditions, the Welsh name Dewi, or Saint David lack historical documentation.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Dana since 1880
Total births
53,235
Total since 1880
Peak year
1962
1,795 births
in 2023
20
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-6%
↘
vs previous 5 years