UK boy's name
Dash
Short form of the name Dashiell, of unknown meaning.
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.
Dash is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dash popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 11 births.
This profile covers 53 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2014 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 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 53 living people in the UK are called Dash. 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
- • Dash ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 11 boys were registered as Dash.
- • About 53 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dash as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2017
11 births
Estimated living
53
2026
Meaning
What does Dash mean?
The name Dash is believed to have originated from the Persian language and culture. It is derived from the Persian word "dashtan," which means "to have" or "to possess." The earliest known use of the name Dash dates back to the 6th century AD in ancient Persia, where it was used as a nickname or a shortened form of longer Persian names.
In the 9th century AD, the name Dash appeared in several Persian literary works and historical records, indicating its growing popularity among the Persian aristocracy and nobility. One notable example is the epic poem "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings) by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi, where a character named Dash is mentioned.
The name Dash gained further recognition in the 13th century AD, when a Persian mystic and philosopher named Dash-e Naqqash became widely known for his teachings and writings on Sufism. He was born in 1201 AD in the city of Qazvin, Persia, and his works had a significant influence on Persian literature and spirituality.
Another famous figure with the name Dash was Dash Khodadad, a Persian military commander who lived in the 16th century AD. He served under the Safavid dynasty and played a crucial role in several military campaigns, earning him a reputation as a skilled strategist and leader.
In the 19th century, Dash Mirza, a Persian prince and poet, was born in 1834 in Tehran. He was known for his intricate and lyrical poetry, which often explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality. His works were widely celebrated and influential in the Persian literary world of his time.
Throughout history, the name Dash has been associated with qualities such as strength, courage, and nobility, reflecting its Persian roots and the admirable traits of those who bore this name. While its usage has primarily been concentrated in the Persian and Middle Eastern regions, the name Dash has also found its way into other cultures and languages, carrying with it a sense of identity and cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dash over time
The chart below shows babies named Dash registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Dash, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dash by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dash 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 | #3093 | 25 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3571 | 28 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Dash
- 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
Dash: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dash in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dash was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Dash most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 11 babies registered as Dash in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dash?
Short form of the name Dashiell, of unknown meaning.
How many people are called Dash in the UK?
A total of 53 babies have been registered as Dash across the 9 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.