Baby Name Poll Results

Just makes me think of Dakota Fanning so yes it's fine

I think that's ridiculous. I know many dakotas (boys and girls) and none are Native American. My nephew has this as his middle name.
It's like using a french name but your not French. It still can be done and it is being done.

My daughter's name is Dakota and we aren't Native American plus I know an adult man named Dakota, also not Native American. No one has ever told us that it's rude or offensive. If you love Dakota then use it.

I'm Native American and have never heard of that before. Dakota is a place name like Asia or London.

Native American think it is silly for people to use tribe names as baby names. It isn't something they would ever do. Are some offended by it? Absolutely. You probably don't hear any criticism because you don't encounter Native Americans and really who is going to go up to a child and say your is offensive.

Using tribe names is disrespectful if you're not Native. That's verbatim cultural appropriation.

Plenty of people name their children Dakota. At the end of the day it's a name of a child, it's not there to be connected to anything. Children named Brooklyn wouldn't be associated with a borough in New York, children named India won't be associated with the country etc

Yes. I've met girls and boys named Dakota, and have had Native friends who do not view it as disrespectful. Most people would probably think of the states before they think of the tribe.

Using a French name if you're not French IS NOT THE SAME SITUATION as using a Native American TRIBAL name if you're not a Native. The French are thriving despite some instances of English suppression of the past (eg. Quebec in Canada). However, Native Americans were almost obliterated off the face of the earth and are still suffering on the margins of society.

Even Native Americans don't normally use the names of their tribes for their children. They usually chose Indian names from their spoken language (eg. Cherokee, Hopi, Navajo etc...). These names are mainly taken from nature.

Cultural appropriation is a very sticky subject for many people. If the culture has faced discrimination in the past from a dominant race (in this case, white people), it's even more troublesome.

I think it's a matter of personal choice and an individual's comfort zone. Personally, I would not use the name but many people have chosen it for their non-native children. The word Dakota happens to be contained in two US state names so it can also be considered a place name as well.

I don't know if it would be considered "rude" pr "offensive" per say but if I was Native American I may consider its use to be "insensitive" to my culture/tribe. Again, it's a personal matter and everyone is different.

If you feel comfortable choosing Dakota, then use it. You will have lots of company as there are many non-Native Dakotas running around.

Yes Dakota is a tribe name but Dakota is an American place name too. I have a friend who is Native American, he and his family have met quite a few kids named Dakota and they have never said anything about it being offensive or rude, one of these Dakotas is friends with one of his daughters, they like her very much. Dakota is perfectly acceptable for you to use.

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Wow Genevieve....

The American states of North Dakota and South Dakota exist just as much as Dakota being a tribal name does. In my eyes, it's not as much of cultural appropriation since there are American states that have Dakota in their names. It's fine, you can use it. I mean, I know quite a few Cheyennes, which is the name of Native American tribe and no one says anything about it. This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone saying Dakota is "rude or offensive" to Native Americans.

Cheyenne is also a place name in Wyoming.

Those States were named after the Lakota and Dakota tribes, after they rounded up the natives put them on reservations and stole the land. Not a great reference.

Think y'all need to calm down.

Poster of the poll, if you love the name that's all that should matter. Many boys and girls have this name and it's been around. It's nothing new. Use it. And if you are worried use it as a middle name.

Hello, Although I'm not native American my name is Dakota I do not find this name offensive. If you would like to name your child Dakota the name Dakota means friendly one do whatever makes you happy 🙂

I don't think this is for Americans who are not Native Americans to speak upon, (because you're not from that culture) it's not 'ridiculous' to ask, Native Americans have been killed and oppressed by AMERICANS.

Oops too late. I'm not Native American but I named my son Dakota. He's 23 now. I don't care if I get bashed for naming him that. 🤷‍♀️

It's kind of like you're saying "the word Dakota is too good to belong to natives alone. It should be for everyone and pets too!"...ok, yeah, go ahead steal the name of the ppl too cuz u think it's just too good to be theirs alone, just like the colonizers before you said about the land they stole.. and the women they raped and killed.

I don't think using the Tribal name is disrespectful, but rather an homage to the Natives. Yes, sadly Native Americans were oppressed and killed by early Americans and fair reparations and more need to be made. It's time to move forward with love and caring for all.

Every name has some language or culture of origin. Names are not offensive in nature. I am from North Dakota, born and raised, and I love the name. A certain 50 Shades of Grey actress may have me biased, though. :)

Ok so u can't use Dakota but u can use Mohammed 😂😂😂🤣🤣 get a life it's a ******* name also ts happened over like 200 years ago no one cares now get over it