Dawn - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Dawn

Dawn is an English word-name that traces back to Old English dagung, “daybreak,” and carries the quietly optimistic image of first light pushing back the night. In the United States it drifted along the fringe until the late 1940s, then flashed into vogue during the 1960s and 70s—peaking at a brisk No. 14 in 1971—before settling into today’s more modest usage. The appeal rests on plainspoken poetry: Dawn suggests renewal without resorting to florid myth, yet still nods to classical imagery of Aurora and Eos. Its single-syllable sturdiness pairs easily with longer surnames, and the soft vowel lets it age gracefully from nursery to boardroom. Parents who choose Dawn now tend to favor its understated radiance over trendier celestial spins, proving that some horizons never lose their quiet glow—even if most of us would rather meet them after coffee.