How Many People Are Named Dawn?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Dawn

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 112,389 living people in the United States currently have the first name Dawn. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 271,298 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #23 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~112,389CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)271,298Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#23U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1944 (6,005 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~112,389
Historical Births (SSA)
271,298
All-Time Rank
#23
Historical Peak
1944

Key Insights for Dawn

Estimated Living Bearers
~112,389 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#23
Top 100 All-Time Classic
Historical Peak Year
1944
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
97% Male · 3% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-48%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~14,049 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Dawn

Living Population Model
~112,389

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
271,298

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
240,000

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
66.4 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1944

Highest annual total: 6,005 registrations in 1944.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-48%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Dawn has experienced a 48% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Dawn (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1944 (~6,005 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201011110
201110100
2012990
2013880
2014770
2015770
2016660
2017660
2018550
2019550
2020550
2021550
2022550
2023000
2024000

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
83/100
1960s
52/100
1970s
24/100
1980s
8/100
1990s
2/100
2000s
1/100
2010s
1/100
2020s
1/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Dawn is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (97% male births).

Male: 97% (~263,226 births)Female: 3% (~8,072 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Dawn

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Dawn in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Dawn appeared 240,000 times, ranking #108 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
240,000 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#108
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Dawn Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~14,049 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~14,04912.5%
Texas (TX)~10,3409.2%
Florida (FL)~7,6426.8%
New York (NY)~6,8566.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~4,4964%
Illinois (IL)~4,3833.9%
Ohio (OH)~4,0463.6%
Georgia (GA)~3,7093.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 112,389 people named Dawn are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 66.4 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Dawn: 66.4 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Popular Full-Name Combinations for Dawn

Estimated frequency of common first-name + surname combinations:

Frequently Asked Questions About Dawn

How many people in the U.S. are named Dawn?

Approximately 112,389 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Dawn. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 271,298 birth applications for Dawn between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Dawn?

Dawn ranks #23 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This puts Dawn among the 100 most common first names in American history.

When was the name Dawn most popular in America?

The name Dawn reached its peak historical popularity in 1944, when 6,005 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Dawn?

Dawn has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Dawn?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Dawn is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (97% male births).

Where is the name Dawn most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Dawn resides in California, with approximately 14,049 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Dawn in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Dawn appeared 240,000 times in census returns, ranking #108 in official 2020 returns.

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