Dana

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Dana

Gender: Masculine and Feminine
Language: English.
Etymology:
Dana has several possibly sources:
1. It is a feminine form for Dan, a Hebrew name meaning “Judged.”
-or-
2. It is short for Danielle, the French feminine form of Daniel, a Hebrew name meaning “God Judges.”
-or-
3. It is a Polish diminutive form of Daria.
-or-
4. It is a Polish diminutive for Bogdan.
-or-
5. It is from an English surname, Dana, either meaning “Danish,” or “Valley” (from “dene”).

History:
Dana was originally a surname, given to boys in honor of Richard Henry Dana (1815-1882), an American lawyer and the author of the highly popular Two Years Before the Mast (1840).

Later, in the 20th century, it became associated with the name Daniel, and was often used as a feminine form for it.

Pronunciation: day-nah.

Alternates (female): Dania, Dayna.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Dana Reitz (f., 1948-)
American choreographer.

Singers and Entertainers:
Dana Andrews (m., 1909-1992)
American actor.
Dana Carvey (m., 1955-)
American comedian.
Queen Latifa (Dana Owens) (f., 1970-)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for males:
0.042 % named Dana

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.122 % named Dana
0.008 % named Dayna
0.002 % named Dania

Popularity of Dana, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 581st most popular.
1910-1920: 722nd most popular.
1920-1930: 626th most popular.
1930-1940: 632nd most popular.
1940-1950: 294th most popular.
1950-1960: 183rd most popular.
1960-1970: 215th most popular.
1970-1980: 267th most popular.
1980-1990: 390th most popular.
1990: 561st most popular.
1991: 575th most popular.
1992: 647th most popular.
1993: 672nd most popular.
1994: 761st most popular.
1995: 804th most popular.
1996: 868th most popular.
1997: 926th most popular.
1998: N/A

Popularity of Dana, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1920: N/A
1920-1930: 835th most popular.
1930-1940: 626th most popular.
1940-1950: 344th most popular.
1950-1960: 192nd most popular.
1960-1970: 80th most popular.
1970-1980: 59th most popular.
1980-1990: 77th most popular.
1990: 117th most popular.
1991: 134th most popular.
1992: 147th most popular.
1993: 157th most popular.
1994: 168th most popular.
1995: 170th most popular.
1996: 174th most popular.
1997: 181st most popular.
1998: 215th most popular.
1999: 239th most popular.
2000: 308th most popular.
2001: 324th most popular.
2002: 338th most popular.
2003: 376th most popular.

Popularity of Dayna, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 762nd most popular.
1970-1980: 604th most popular.
1980-1990: 635th most popular.
1990: 547th most popular.
1991: 668th most popular.
1992: 647th most popular.
1993: 804th most popular.
1994: 785th most popular.
1995: 763rd most popular.
1997: 809th most popular.
1998: 977th most popular.
1999: 929th most popular.
2000: 945th most popular.
2001: N/A