How to say it
DAN · te
ˈdɑːn.teɪ
Masculine
Dante
Steadfast, enduring
What it means
An Italian short form of Durante, from the Latin durans, 'enduring' or 'steadfast.'
Dante is the Italian short form of Durante, from Latin durans, 'enduring.' It is forever tied to Dante Alighieri, whose Divine Comedy mapped hell, purgatory, and paradise and helped shape the Italian language itself. That literary heft gives it gravity, while the sound stays crisp and modern. It is well used in Italian and Black American families alike. Said DAHN-tay.
How to spell Dante
The standard spelling is Dante. Common variants include Durante, Donte, Dontae, but Dante is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #200 in 1997, currently #308 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Dante Alighieri and his Divine Comedy are the towering association.
- Pronunciation
DAHN-tay; the spellings Donte and Dontae track the same sound.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Dante Alighieri medieval Italian poet, author of the Divine Comedy
Spelling variants
- Durante
- Donte
- Dontae
Names with the same feeling
See Dante from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Dante mean?
- An Italian short form of Durante, from the Latin durans, 'enduring' or 'steadfast.'
- What does Dante mean in Italian?
- In Italian, Dante means "Steadfast, enduring." Dante is the Italian short form of Durante, from Latin durans, 'enduring.' It is forever tied to Dante Alighieri, whose Divine Comedy mapped hell, purgatory, and paradise and helped shape the Italian language itself. That literary heft gives it gravity, while the sound stays crisp and modern. It is well used in Italian and Black American families alike. Said DAHN-tay.
- Is Dante short for Durante?
- Yes. Dante is a short form of Durante, and it carries the same meaning, "Steadfast, enduring." These days many parents use Dante as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Dante?
- Dante is pronounced ˈdɑːn.teɪ. Say it as DAN-te, with the stress on the "dan" syllable.
- How do you spell Dante?
- The standard spelling is Dante. Common spelling variants include Durante, Donte, Dontae.
- Is Dante a boy or girl name?
- Dante is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Dante?
- Dante ranked #308 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.