boy's name
Dax
DAKS (English)
- Origin French, English
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 3
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 13,674
the United States
#693
2025 births
Dax is a boy's name from an English surname, which came either from the town of Dax in southwestern France or from the Old English personal name Dæcca, whose meaning is unknown. Its modern use owes much to science fiction and to its short, punchy sound.
- Dax is a name of French, English origin.
- Peaked in 2019, when 749 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 8,436 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1967.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Dax Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1960s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 52 |
| 1970s | 1,018 |
| 1980s | 411 |
| 1990s | 520 |
| 2000s | 1,586 |
| 2010s | 5,007 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 3,340 |
What Dax Means
Dax has no firm dictionary meaning. As a place name it points to the French spa town, and as an Old English name its sense has been lost, so parents usually choose it for sound and style.
Where Dax Comes From
The French town of Dax lies in the Landes in southwestern France, and it has been known for its hot springs since Roman times. Its name grew from the Latin Aquae, waters, with the Gascon form d'Acs eventually running together into Dax. That gave rise to a surname among people connected with the town. A separate English line goes back to Dæcca, an Old English personal name of uncertain sense. The name's jump into first-name use came in the late twentieth century.
Dax in Use
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine made the name familiar through Jadzia Dax, whose surname belongs to the alien symbiont she carries. Well-known American bearers include actor Dax Shepard.
How Popular Is Dax?
In 2025, Dax was given to 393 babies in the United States, ranking #693 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Dax Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Dax
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Dax Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Dax over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Dax
- English DAKS /dæks/
Sibling Names for Dax
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Dax — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Dax
What does the name Dax mean?
It has no agreed dictionary meaning. It comes from a French town name or an Old English personal name.
Is Dax a French name?
Partly. Dax is a town in southwestern France, and one line of the surname comes from it.
Is Dax a boy's or a girl's name?
It's used almost entirely for boys.
How popular is the name Dax?
In 2025, Dax was given to 393 babies in the United States, ranking #693 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
How many syllables are in Dax?
Dax has 1 syllable.
When was Dax most popular?
Dax peaked in 2019, when 749 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Dax a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Dax currently ranks #615 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.