Dauna
A girl's name of Irish origin with 201 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Dauna is not in the current national top 1,000. In fact, it is among the rarest names in the SSA dataset — a choice that signals bold individuality.
Appearing in records from 1931 to 2004, Dauna has a solid multi-decade track record without being a permanent fixture — it belongs to a specific chapter of American naming.
Dauna is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Dauna is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, a variant of Donna or Dawna, from the Irish donn, meaning 'brown' or 'dark,' or influenced by the English word dawn, suggesting the first light of morning.
Dauna blends two possible meanings — the dark earthiness of its Celtic root and the luminous promise of dawn. It carries a warm, nature-infused quality that feels at once grounded and hopeful.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Dauna is rooted in the Irish tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1931 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Dauna’s rarity (201 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dauna has 27+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1931.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 7 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 12 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 10 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 46 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 59 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 30 | — |
| 1930s | 32 | — |
The Story of Dauna
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1933, Dauna is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Dauna are most likely born between 1931 and 1943.
How rare is Dauna?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Dauna is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1931, peaked in the 1950s with 59 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dauna by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(27 years, 1931–2004)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 | #16757 |
| 1990 | 7 | #10485 |
| 1989 | 6 | #11177 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9349 |
| 1972 | 5 | #8545 |
| 1970 | 5 | #8251 |
| 1968 | 8 | #5241 |
| 1967 | 7 | #5591 |
| 1966 | 9 | #4567 |
| 1965 | 10 | #4260 |
| 1962 | 6 | #6008 |
| 1961 | 6 | #5980 |
| 1959 | 6 | #5706 |
| 1957 | 8 | #4614 |
| 1956 | 8 | #4543 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4134 |
| 1954 | 7 | #4767 |
| 1952 | 7 | #4581 |
| 1951 | 6 | #4964 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4033 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Dauna most popular?
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1931–2004