UK name, mostly boys
Dane
A Danish masculine name derived from the ethnic name for the people of Denmark.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dane is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Dane popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2813, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 110 births.
This profile covers 906 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 6% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,010 living people in the UK are called Dane. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dane ranked #2813 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 110 boys were registered as Dane.
- • Dane ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #281 in 2002.
- • About 1,010 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dane as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.7% of Dane registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2813
2023
Births in 2023
7
Latest year
Peak year
2001
110 births
Estimated living
1,010
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Dane
In England and Wales birth records, Dane has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.7% of registrations are for boys and 0.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Dane registered for boys
- Ranked #2,813 in 2023
- 7 boys registered in 2023
- Peak: 2001 (110 births)
Dane registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2011
- 3 girls registered in 2011
- Peak: 2011 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Dane mean?
The name Dane has its origins in the Old Norse language and is derived from the word "danr," which means "Danish." This name was commonly used by the Vikings, who were seafaring Norse people from the regions of modern-day Scandinavia, especially Denmark, during the 8th to 11th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dane can be found in the Old Norse sagas, which were ancient stories and historical narratives written in Iceland during the 13th century. These sagas often mentioned Danes, referring to the people of Denmark, and the name Dane was likely used as a personal name during this time.
In the 9th century, a Danish Viking king named Dane Mikilláti (Dane the Great) was known for his conquests and raids across Europe. He is believed to have led several successful campaigns against the Franks and is mentioned in various historical chronicles from that period.
Another notable figure with the name Dane was Dane Gudmundsson, an Icelandic scholar and priest who lived from around 1570 to 1636. He was known for his work in preserving and translating ancient Icelandic manuscripts and sagas.
In the 19th century, Dane Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was a prominent English poet, illustrator, and co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, an influential artistic movement in Victorian-era Britain. His works, including poems like "Blessed Damozel" and paintings like "Ecce Ancilla Domini," were highly celebrated during his lifetime.
Dane Rudhyar (1895-1985) was a French-American author, composer, and astrologer who is known for his contributions to the field of modern astrology and the development of the concept of "person-centered astrology." He wrote several influential books on astrology and spiritual philosophy.
Throughout history, the name Dane has been associated with individuals from various cultures and backgrounds, often reflecting its Norse origins and connections to Denmark and the Viking age. It has been used as a personal name across different regions and time periods, carrying a rich historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dane over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Dane in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dane, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2023, compared with 110 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dane by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dane 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 | #2981 | 25 | 4 |
| 2010s | #1835 | 142 | 10 |
| 2000s | #675 | 495 | 10 |
| 1990s | #379 | 244 | 4 |
Geography
Where Dane is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Dane. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Dane ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #281 in 2002.
Across the UK
Dane in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#584 in 2006
18 years of NRS records, 99 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#281 in 2002
4 years of NISRA records, 15 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Dane
-
Dane Scarlett
association football player
English footballer
2004-
-
Dane Murray
association football player
Scottish footballer
2003-
-
Dane Blacker
rugby union player
rugby player
1998-
-
Dane Manning
rugby league player
English rugby league player
1989-
-
Dane Brookes
writer; screenwriter; entrepreneur
British actor and writer
1984-
-
Dane Bowers
composer; singer; disc jockey
British singer
1979-
-
Dane Whitehouse
association football player
English footballer (born 1970)
1970-
Related
Names similar to Dane
- 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
Dane: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dane in the UK right now?
In 2023, Dane was ranked #2813 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Dane most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 110 babies registered as Dane in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dane?
A Danish masculine name derived from the ethnic name for the people of Denmark.
How many people are called Dane in the UK?
A total of 906 babies have been registered as Dane across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 99 more in Scotland and 15 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Dane most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Dane ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #281 in 2002. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.