Is Dale a boy's or girl's name?

Dale is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 21,882 recorded births.

When was Dale most popular?

Dale reached its peak popularity in 1958 with 8,503 births that year. It is currently ranked #1306 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Dale?

Dale is currently ranked #1306 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 278,018 babies since 1881.

Dale

An uncommon Middle English pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsMiddle EnglishRising fast Also a pet name

#1306▲ 108in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A surname from Middle English for someone living in a dale.

Dale is a boy's and girl's baby name of Middle English origin, from the Old English and Old Norse surname for someone who lived in a dale or valley — from Old English dæl ("valley"). It transferred from surname to given name in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Dale ranked in the U.S. top 50 boys' names during the 1940s and 1950s. NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt made the name synonymous with American speed and grit, while Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, gave it a more polished dimension. It's a clean, outdoor-flavored one-syllable name with genuine character.

Compare Dale with another name

Popularity Over Time

Dale was #608 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1306, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Dale
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	653	#1409	▼
2010s	1,593	#1185	▼
2000s	3,628	#653	▼
1990s	6,213	#391	▼
1980s	10,486	#230	▼
1970s	18,066	#151	▼
1960s	50,420	#76	▼
1950s	75,567	#49	▲
1940s	46,812	#60	▲
1930s	32,536	#61	▲
1920s	22,752	#86	▲
1910s	8,218	#145	▲
1900s	672	#243	▲
1890s	281	#366	▲
1880s	121	#558	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(144 years, 1881–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Dale
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	149	#1306	+20 (15.5%)
2023	129	#1414	+15 (13.2%)
2022	114	#1559	-16 (-12.3%)
2021	130	#1409	-1 (-0.8%)
2020	131	#1355	+13 (11.0%)
2019	118	#1468	-9 (-7.1%)
2018	127	#1388	-23 (-15.3%)
2017	150	#1223	-23 (-13.3%)
2016	173	#1124	-4 (-2.3%)
2015	177	#1096	-4 (-2.2%)
2014	181	#1072	+35 (24.0%)
2013	146	#1228	-19 (-11.5%)
2012	165	#1115	-1 (-0.6%)
2011	166	#1110	-24 (-12.6%)
2010	190	#1021	-35 (-15.6%)
2009	225	#920	-36 (-13.8%)
2008	261	#836	-23 (-8.1%)
2007	284	#772	-5 (-1.7%)
2006	289	#738	-34 (-10.5%)
2005	323	#662	-30 (-8.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Dale as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Dale has also been given to 21,882 girls in the U.S. since 1887.

Unranked

Current rank

21,882

Total births

1952

Peak year

Compare Dale as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Dale be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Dale is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1306. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Dale has two lives

Dale, the baby name

#1306boys

278,018 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1881–2024) · Methodology