US births per decade — source: Social Security Administration
Dan is predominantly a male name in the United States, and has declined in use since the 1950s. There are approximately 60,000 people named Dan in the US today.
The name Dan's root letters are DN.
The popularity of the DN names reached its peak in the 1970’s, and although many baby boomers sport one of its many incarnations, these names are quite rare amongst today’s newborns. Its declining status may have something to do with the inherent conflict created when the determinedly decisive letter D teams up with the nasally pronounced letter N. While the letter D denotes people of upstanding fortitude, the N is the archetypal expression of negativity: no, never, nada, naught, nothing and nowhere. Consequently, this letter combination is the source of the contentious tones found in the words: damn, darken, demand, deny, dingy, demon, dank, dragon, drunk, madman, and debunk. So while these people carry themselves with dignity and exhibit a capacity for genuine caring, there’s also a wry streak of pessimism flowing through their veins.
DN people have a distinct streak of stubbornness that they consider quite attractive. Employers, parents and friends might disagree, but no one will argue that Dans take advantage of their fierce focus and put it to work in their business ventures. The fact that they have such a vast reservoir of enthusiasm means that they have no problem attracting people who are willing to take advantage of their emotional and material resources, and the nice thing is that Dans don’t usually expect anything in return, except someone with whom to team up with in their quest for diversion.
Of course, being an idealist has its downside; life cannot always be counted on to go the way you had expected. And failure and Dans don’t get along very well, for this is where they tend to manifest their depression. We’re not talking about anything pathological mind you, just brief periods of gloom in which Dans will feel sorry for themselves and try to co-opt their friends for commiseration. You get the sense that Dans could snap out of it anytime they wanted to, but there’s nothing like a good melodramatic wallow every now and then. Once they’ve had their fill of melancholy, they’ll step back into the sunshine -- reinvigorated and refreshed -- to resume their productive ways.
When it comes to relationships, Dans absorb their energy from other people and are known for their devotion to friends and family. Intimate affairs with Dans can be a little touchy at times, not because of their occasional huffs, but because of their high ideals and their habit of placing impossible expectations on their mates. Dans also need to be high on their partners’ priority lists: being snubbed even in an insignificant way can trigger one of their sulks. To get the most out of these dynamic souls, those who mate with Dans are advised not to walk around on eggshells but roll with the punches instead.
