dana
n. countablen. a common first name for a person. It is used in many different countries and can be for any gender.
n. a given name of diverse linguistic origins, including Hebrew, Persian, and Scandinavian roots. Used as a unisex name in many cultures, though gender distribution varies by region.
Dana is my best friend from school.
The manager asked Dana to lead the presentation because of her excellent public speaking skills.
While the name Dana has various etymological roots across different continents, it remains a popular choice for parents seeking a name that is easily pronounced in multiple languages.
Of uncertain origin. Possibly from Dawnay, or else an altered form of Dan or Daniel.
Transliterations from various languages.
Borrowed from Polish Dana.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
As a proper noun, it is almost always capitalized.
Last updated May 2, 2026