Dana is a name of Hebrew origin that means "song" or "melody." It is derived from the Hebrew word "dunam," which refers to music or song. In some traditions, Dana is also associated with the goddess Dana, who was believed to have brought the arts of civilization to Ireland.
The name Dana has been used for centuries and can be traced back to ancient times. It was used by the ancient Hebrews as a term of endearment for their children, and it appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of one of King David's wives. In Irish mythology, Dana is the name of a goddess who played a significant role in the development of Celtic culture.
Today, Dana is still a popular name around the world. It is often given to girls but can also be used for boys. Some famous people with the name Dana include American actresses Dana Delany and Dana Ivey, as well as Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Mangan, who uses his full first name professionally.
The name Dana experienced significant growth in popularity from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, with a steady increase in births per year until peaking at 5049 in 1963. However, it began declining thereafter, reaching an all-time low of 231 births in 2021. Overall, there were 193,076 recorded births named Dana from 1882 to 2023.