UK boy's name
Daan
The name Daan of Scandinavian origin means "little and wise".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Daan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Daan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2003 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Daan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Daan ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 boys were registered as Daan.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Daan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Daan mean?
The name Daan has its origins in the Dutch language and culture. It is a variant of the name Daniel, which is derived from the Hebrew name "Daniyyel," meaning "God is my judge." The name Daan is believed to have emerged as a popular variant in the Netherlands during the Middle Ages.
In the Bible, the Book of Daniel tells the story of the prophet Daniel, who lived in Babylon during the 6th century BC. The name Daniel gained popularity among early Christians, who revered the prophet's faith and wisdom. Over time, various spellings and variants of the name emerged in different languages and cultures.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Daan was Daan van der Goes, a Dutch painter who lived from around 1440 to 1473. He was a renowned artist of the Early Netherlandish school and is known for his religious paintings, including altarpieces and panel paintings.
Another notable figure was Daan Huizinga, a Dutch footballer who played as a defender. He was born in 1931 and passed away in 2015. Huizinga represented the Netherlands national team and played for various clubs, including Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam.
In the world of literature, Daan Inghelram was a Belgian writer and poet born in 1958. He is known for his poetry collections and novels, which often explore themes of identity, loss, and the human condition.
Daan Roosegaarde, born in 1979, is a Dutch artist and innovator known for his large-scale installations that combine art, technology, and environmental awareness. His works, such as the Smog Free Project and the Van Gogh Path, have gained international recognition.
Lastly, Daan Utsav is an annual cultural festival celebrated in parts of India, particularly in the state of Maharashtra. It honors the tradition of giving and sharing, and its origins can be traced back to the 17th century. During this festival, people exchange gifts and participate in various cultural activities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Daan over time
The chart below shows babies named Daan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Daan, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Daan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Daan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4810 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3467 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Daan
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Daan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Daan in the UK right now?
In 2020, Daan was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Daan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Daan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Daan?
The name Daan of Scandinavian origin means "little and wise".
How many people are called Daan in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Daan across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.