Is Dao a boy's or girl's name?

Dao is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 88 recorded births.

When was Dao most popular?

Dao reached its peak popularity in 1983 with 16 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Dao?

Dao is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 194 babies in the U.S. since 1981. Its peak was in 1983.

Dao

An uncommon Chinese pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsChineseNot ranked recently Also a pet name

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

Alternative form of Tao (“the way of nature, or ideal way to live one's life”).

Dao is a boy's and girl's baby name of Chinese origin, from the Chinese dào (道), meaning 'the Way,' 'path,' or 'principle.' The Tao is the fundamental concept of Taoism — the natural order of the universe, the flow of all things.

Dao as a given name carries one of philosophy's deepest concepts. It is also used in Vietnamese culture as both a name and a noun meaning 'knife' or 'sword.' Its single syllable holds an entire worldview.

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Popularity Over Time

Dao has 22+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1981.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Dao
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	5	#12585	▼
2000s	24	#10381	▼
1990s	69	#6666	▼
1980s	96	#4293	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(22 years, 1981–2018)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Dao
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2018	5	#12585	0
2006	5	#12435	0
2004	5	#11733	-2 (-28.6%)
2003	7	#8857	0
2001	7	#8498	+2 (40.0%)
1998	5	#9941	-2 (-28.6%)
1996	7	#7304	+2 (40.0%)
1995	5	#9145	-4 (-44.4%)
1994	9	#5959	-1 (-10.0%)
1993	10	#5427	0
1992	10	#5312	-6 (-37.5%)
1991	16	#3679	+9 (128.6%)
1990	7	#6561	-6 (-46.2%)
1989	13	#4076	+6 (85.7%)
1988	7	#5893	-5 (-41.7%)
1987	12	#3774	-3 (-20.0%)
1986	15	#3161	+8 (114.3%)
1985	7	#5265	-3 (-30.0%)
1984	10	#3986	-6 (-37.5%)
1983	16	#2814	+6 (60.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Dao as a Girl's Name

Though more common for boys, Dao has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 88 births since 1980.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

1982

Peak year

Compare Dao as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Dao be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Dao is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it is not currently ranked. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Dao has two lives

Dao, the baby name

Rareboys

194 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1981–2018) · Methodology

Dao