Dao is of Chinese origin, meaning "arrival" or "to arrive". It is often considered unisex, although it is more commonly used for males in China and Vietnam. The name Dao is simple yet profound, reflecting its meaning. In Vietnamese culture, it also signifies harmony, balance, and the path of enlightenment. In Chinese, the character 道 (dào) has significant spiritual connotations, representing Taoism, one of the major philosophical schools of thought in China.
"The name Dao experienced a steady increase in popularity from 7 births per year in the early 80s to a peak of 8 births in both 1991 and 1993. After that, it fluctuated between 5 to 6 births annually until 2003."