Find out how popular the first name Dawn has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dawn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dawn is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Dawn being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 77 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Dawn.

The history of the first name Dawn

The name Dawn is derived from the Old English word "dæg" or "dag," meaning "day" or "morning." It is believed to have originated as a reference to the first appearance of light at sunrise, signifying the beginning of a new day.

Dawn was initially used as a name in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. It was likely inspired by the personification of dawn in Greek and Roman mythology, where the goddess of dawn was known as Eos or Aurora, respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dawn can be found in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," written in the late 14th century. In the prologue, Chaucer mentions a character named "Dawne the day gan for to spryng" (Dawn, as the day began to spring).

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dawn. One of the most famous is Dawn Powell (1896-1965), an American novelist and playwright known for her satirical depictions of New York City society in the early 20th century.

Another prominent figure with the name Dawn is Dawn Upshaw (born 1960), an American opera singer and recitalist who has received numerous accolades, including five Grammy Awards and the prestigious Beverage Award for Excellence in Vocal Performance.

In the realm of sports, Dawn Staley (born 1970) is a renowned former basketball player and current head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team. She was a three-time Olympic gold medalist and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Dawn French (born 1957) is a beloved British actress, writer, and comedian, best known for her collaborations with Jennifer Saunders on the iconic sketch show "French and Saunders" and her role in the sitcom "Vicar of Dibley."

Lastly, Dawn Brancheau (1976-2010) was a dedicated marine mammal trainer at SeaWorld Orlando who tragically lost her life during a performance with a killer whale. Her story sparked discussions about the ethics of keeping large marine animals in captivity for entertainment purposes.

While the name Dawn has its roots in ancient languages and mythologies, it has endured throughout history, often associated with the beauty and promise of a new day. Its popularity as a given name reflects the timeless appeal of this symbolic representation of beginnings and fresh starts.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dawn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dawn, please contact us.

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