Dan is a common male given name that has origins in Hebrew, meaning "judge." It is often used as a short form of the name Daniel. The name has been popular in various cultures and languages, making it widely recognized. In addition to being a name, Dan can refer to various places, such as Dan River in Israel or Dan as a historical region in ancient Israel. The name is also associated with notable figures, including Dan Rather, an American journalist, and Dan Aykroyd, a Canadian actor and musician.