Takota
A gender-neutral Native American name meaning "friend to all".
Name Census estimates that about 432 living Americans carry the first name Takota. It is a predominantly male name (92.5% of registrations). The average person named Takota today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Takota births was 1997 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Takota. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
432
~ 1 in 793,413 Americans
Peak year
1997
34 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,222
Tracked since 1995
Gender
Gender distribution for Takota
Takota leans heavily male at 92.5% of total registrations, but 33 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Takota as a male name
- Ranked #8,222 in 2024
- 10 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1997 (29 births)
Takota as a female name
- Ranked #19,905 in 2009
- 5 female births in 2009
- Peak: 1996 (6 births)
Popularity
Takota: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Takota from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 191 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Takota by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Takota during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Takota
The name Takota is believed to have its origins in the Native American culture, specifically the Dakota Sioux tribe. It is a variant spelling of the word "Dakota," which means "friend" or "ally" in the Sioux language. The Dakota Sioux people are indigenous to the Great Plains region of North America, which spans parts of the modern-day United States and Canada.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Takota can be traced back to the late 18th century. Chief Takota, a prominent leader of the Dakota Sioux, was known for his bravery and leadership during the conflicts with European settlers in the late 1700s. He played a significant role in defending his tribe's lands and way of life.
In the early 19th century, Takota was the name of a renowned Dakota Sioux warrior who fought alongside his tribe against the United States Army during the Dakota War of 1862. His courage and commitment to his people's cause earned him a place in the annals of Native American history.
Another notable figure named Takota was a Dakota Sioux chief who lived in the mid-19th century. He was known for his efforts in preserving his tribe's cultural traditions and advocating for their rights during a time of great upheaval and displacement.
Jumping forward to the 20th century, Takota was the name of a famous Native American artist and sculptor who was born in 1920. His intricate woodcarvings and sculptures depicting scenes from Dakota Sioux life gained widespread acclaim, and his works can be found in museums and galleries across the United States.
In more recent times, Takota was the name of a prominent Dakota Sioux activist and author who was born in 1945. He dedicated his life to raising awareness about the plight of Native Americans and advocating for their rights and self-determination. His writings and speeches played a crucial role in shaping the modern Native American rights movement.
People
Takota + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Takota as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Takota: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Takota?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 432 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Takota going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 793,413 US residents.
Is Takota a common name?
We classify Takota as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 438 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Takota most popular?
The single biggest year for Takota was 1997, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Takota is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Takota a male name?
Yes, 92.5% of people registered as Takota in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.