Dino
A boy's name of Italian origin with 9,173 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Italian, feminine equivalent Dina.
Dino is a boy's baby name of Italian origin, an Italian short form of names ending in -dino such as Bernardino or Odino, with the root connecting to the Germanic din meaning 'strong' or 'worthy.' It has long been used as an independent name in Italy and Italian-American communities.
With over 9,000 recorded births in U.S. SSA data, Dino has genuine American roots. Its most famous American bearer was Dino Paul Crocetti — better known as Dean Martin, one of the great entertainers of the Rat Pack era. Dino is also universally recognized as the beloved dinosaur pet from The Flintstones, giving it a warm, nostalgic charm.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Dino is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1912–2024). Its Italian roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Dino is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #2712), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dino was #2029 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2712, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 221 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 393 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 604 | — |
| 1990s | 605 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 700 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 1,301 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 2,794 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 1,441 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 213 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 438 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 321 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 142 | — |
The Story of Dino
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1960, Dino is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Dino are most likely born between 1950 and 1970.
How rare is Dino?
Only about 1 in every 75,000 babies born in 2024 was named Dino — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1912, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 2,794 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dino by the numbers
- Would fill 191 school buses
- Meeting one Dino per day would take 25.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(113 years, 1912–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48 | #2712 |
| 2023 | 49 | #2661 |
| 2022 | 31 | #3634 |
| 2021 | 44 | #2829 |
| 2020 | 49 | #2594 |
| 2019 | 29 | #3739 |
| 2018 | 41 | #2908 |
| 2017 | 41 | #2906 |
| 2016 | 37 | #3122 |
| 2015 | 43 | #2775 |
| 2014 | 38 | #2999 |
| 2013 | 37 | #3012 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3015 |
| 2011 | 43 | #2764 |
| 2010 | 46 | #2649 |
| 2009 | 52 | #2463 |
| 2008 | 58 | #2275 |
| 2007 | 60 | #2219 |
| 2006 | 51 | #2415 |
| 2005 | 67 | #1895 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dino a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dino most popular?
How popular is the name Dino?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1912–2024