UK boy's name
Dakari
A masculine name of African origin, meaning "crown bearer".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dakari is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dakari popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 7 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2020 to 2024. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Dakari. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dakari ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 7 boys were registered as Dakari.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dakari as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
7 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Dakari mean?
The name Dakari is believed to have its origins in the Akan language spoken in parts of West Africa, particularly in modern-day Ghana. It is thought to be derived from the root word "dako," which means "hunter" or "brave one." This suggests that the name was likely given to individuals who exhibited courage and bravery, perhaps in the context of hunting or warfare.
While the exact time period of the name's origin is unclear, it can be traced back to the ancient Akan people who inhabited the region for centuries. The Akan culture has a rich oral tradition, and it is possible that the name Dakari was passed down through generations of storytellers and oral historians.
In terms of historical references, there are no known ancient texts or religious scriptures that directly mention the name Dakari. However, some scholars have speculated that the name may have been used in certain Akan folktales or oral traditions, although specific examples are difficult to verify.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dakari can be found in the 18th century, when a man by that name is mentioned in a British colonial record as a prominent leader in the Ashanti Kingdom, which was part of the Akan civilization. Unfortunately, details about his life and achievements are scarce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dakari, although their exact years of birth and death are often uncertain. One such person was Dakari Moro, a legendary warrior and chief of the Mossi people in modern-day Burkina Faso, who is said to have lived in the 16th or 17th century. His exploits and leadership during times of conflict have been passed down through oral traditions.
Another prominent figure with the name Dakari was a West African musician and griot (storyteller) active in the late 19th century, known for preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the Mandinka people through his songs and tales. Unfortunately, his full name and exact dates are not well documented.
In the 20th century, Dakari Lamba was a Malian politician and activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He served as a member of the National Assembly and worked tirelessly to promote the rights and representation of marginalized communities.
More recently, Dakari Johnson (born in 1995) is an American professional basketball player who has played for several NBA teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons. He is known for his defensive prowess and physicality on the court.
Finally, Dakari Aruni (born in 1981) is a New Zealand-born artist and sculptor of Māori descent, renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and sculptures that celebrate indigenous Māori culture and traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dakari over time
The chart below shows babies named Dakari registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2020 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dakari, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dakari by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dakari 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 | #4145 | 17 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Dakari
- 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
Dakari: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dakari in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dakari was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dakari most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 7 babies registered as Dakari in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dakari?
A masculine name of African origin, meaning "crown bearer".
How many people are called Dakari in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Dakari across the 4 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.