Where does the name Dale come from?

Dale is a boy name of Old English origin.

Is Dale a boy or a girl name?

Dale is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 7% of children given the name Dale are girls and 93% are boys.

How popular is the name Dale in 2023?

Dale ranks #15733 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1958 with 9,087 babies.

How do you pronounce Dale?

Dale is pronounced DAYL (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Dale?

Dale is also written as Dael, Dayle.

A name from Old English · Boy

Dale

From Old English dæl meaning 'valley' — originally a surname for someone who lived in a valley. Used as a given name from the 19th century, more commonly in the U.S. than in Britain.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 142-year arc in numbers.

277,878 U.S. births recorded from 1881–2023.

Popularity · 1881–2023

135 births in 2023

1881 1952 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

DFrom Old English dæl meaning 'valley' — originally a surname for someone who lived in a valley. Used as a given name from the 19th century, more commonly in the U.S. than in Britain.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Dale".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Dael Most common Dayle

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Dale.

D
Dale Earnhardt (NASCAR legend)
D
Dale Carnegie (author of How to Win Friends)
D
Dale Murphy (baseball MVP)

Quick answers

People often ask about Dale.

What does the name Dale mean?: Dale means from Old English dæl meaning 'valley' — originally a surname for someone who lived in a valley. Used as a given name from the 19th century, more commonly in the U.S. than in Britain.
Where does the name Dale come from?: Dale is a boy name of Old English origin.
Is Dale a boy or a girl name?: Dale is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 7% of children given the name Dale are girls and 93% are boys.
How popular is the name Dale in 2023?: Dale ranks #15733 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1958 with 9,087 babies.
How do you pronounce Dale?: Dale is pronounced DAYL (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Dale?: Dale is also written as Dael, Dayle.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.