Delmar
Primarily a boy's name of Spanish origin with 14,227 recorded births. Also given to 134 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Old French.
Delmar is a boy's and girl's baby name of Spanish origin, from the Spanish phrase del mar, meaning 'of the sea' or 'from the sea.' It also functions as a surname derived from Old French place names.
With over 14,000 recorded births, Delmar has a warm, coastal quality — a name that evokes the open ocean and the freedom of the horizon. It has a distinctly Southern and Midwestern American character, and has been a steady presence in American naming since the early 20th century. The character Delmar O'Donnell in the Coen Brothers' film O Brother, Where Art Thou? brought the name a certain lovable, offbeat charm.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Delmar is rooted in the Spanish tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1880 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
With 14,227 recorded U.S. births, Delmar has clearly resonated across communities. Names that reach this level of adoption typically carry a sound that works in multiple accents and cultural contexts — a kind of phonetic universality.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Delmar was #3659 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4726, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 108 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 224 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 219 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 292 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 376 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 595 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 824 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,323 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 1,932 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 2,994 | — |
| 1920s | 3,207 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 1,750 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 244 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 77 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 62 | — |
The Story of Delmar
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1931, Delmar is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Delmar are most likely born between 1921 and 1941.
How rare is Delmar?
Only about 1 in every 171,429 babies born in 2024 was named Delmar — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 3,207 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Delmar by the numbers
- Would fill 296 school buses
- Meeting one Delmar per day would take 39 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(143 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21 | #4726 |
| 2023 | 28 | #3912 |
| 2022 | 14 | #6216 |
| 2021 | 22 | #4522 |
| 2020 | 23 | #4306 |
| 2019 | 20 | #4838 |
| 2018 | 23 | #4393 |
| 2017 | 18 | #5148 |
| 2016 | 27 | #3904 |
| 2015 | 15 | #5800 |
| 2014 | 24 | #4167 |
| 2013 | 31 | #3430 |
| 2012 | 19 | #4900 |
| 2011 | 24 | #4133 |
| 2010 | 23 | #4267 |
| 2009 | 25 | #4064 |
| 2008 | 24 | #4167 |
| 2007 | 28 | #3712 |
| 2006 | 16 | #5363 |
| 2005 | 18 | #4679 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Delmar as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Delmar has also been given to 134 girls in the U.S. since 1910.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delmar a boy's or girl's name?
When was Delmar most popular?
How popular is the name Delmar?
Can Delmar be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024