The name Dane is of Old Norse origin, derived from the word 'Dani', which means 'from Denmark'. It was originally used as a surname for people who were natives of Denmark or had Danish ancestry. However, over time, it began to be used as a given name as well. In Scandinavia, the name has been quite popular and is often associated with the Viking Age due to its historical connection with Denmark.
The name Dane has seen varied popularity over the years, with peaks in the late 1970s to mid-1980s and again in the early 1990s. The highest number of births in a single year was 19 births in 1987. However, since then, the name's popularity has decreased significantly, with fewer than 10 births per year from 2000 onwards, and as low as 5 births per year in recent years (2015-2019).