Dagny
A girl's name of Old Norse origin with 1,680 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name from Old Norse
Dagny is a girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, derived from the elements dagr (day) and ny (new), meaning 'new day' or 'day's brightness.' It was borne by queens and heroines in Norse sagas.
Dagny Taggart is the protagonist of Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged, giving this Norse name a powerful literary association. In Scandinavia, Dagny has been a traditional name for over a thousand years — it sounds like Nordic winter light breaking through cloud.
EtymologyShow more
Dagny is cataloged under the Old Norse naming tradition. Names from the Old Norse tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Dagny has been recorded as a girl's name since 1893, with 1,680 total births. Browse the Old Norse names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dagny climbed 429 spots in the last 20 years — from #6855 to #6426.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 157 | #4575 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 516 | #3270 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 260 | #5290 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 99 | #9150 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 61 | #9080 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 59 | #7110 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 70 | #5135 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 10 | #5649 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 12 | #4534 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 41 | #3776 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 105 | #2938 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 171 | #1744 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 89 | #1434 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 30 | #1274 | — |
The Story of Dagny
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2013, Dagny is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Dagny are most likely born between 2003 and 2023.
How rare is Dagny?
Only about 1 in every 200,000 babies born in 2024 was named Dagny — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1893, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 516 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Dagny by the numbers
- Would fill 35 school buses
- Meeting one Dagny per day would take 4.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(103 years, 1893–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | #6426 |
| 2023 | 33 | #4291 |
| 2022 | 35 | #4128 |
| 2021 | 34 | #4179 |
| 2020 | 37 | #3851 |
| 2019 | 44 | #3513 |
| 2018 | 48 | #3302 |
| 2017 | 47 | #3353 |
| 2016 | 37 | #4013 |
| 2015 | 47 | #3399 |
| 2014 | 56 | #3013 |
| 2013 | 81 | #2288 |
| 2012 | 63 | #2778 |
| 2011 | 55 | #3061 |
| 2010 | 38 | #3975 |
| 2009 | 43 | #3687 |
| 2008 | 39 | #4026 |
| 2007 | 27 | #5272 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5120 |
| 2005 | 28 | #4734 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1893–2024