Dale

Meaning: Dweller in a valley
Origin: English surname

Boy's name · #1410 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Dale is an heirloom: its strongest era came around 1952, when it ranked #46. It has thinned since but never left the records — about 278,000 boys since 1881, ranked #1410 today.

Across the states

See where Dale is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 15 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Dale ranks in other countries and regions.

#1,500 in Canada (2025) · #2,952 in England & Wales (2025) · #657 in Ireland (2022) · #711 in Scotland (2020) · #358 in N. Ireland (2016) · #3,861 in Ecuador (2004) · #295 in New Zealand (1996) · #77 in Australia (QLD) (1993) · #100 in Australia (NSW) (1991) · #1,112 in France (1965).

Famous Dales

Dale Carnegie — American writer and lecturer (1888–1955)
Dale T. Mortensen — American economist (1939–2014)
Dale Earnhardt — American racing driver (1951–2001)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. — American racing driver (born 1974)
Dale Robertson — American actor (1923–2013)

In stories & tradition

Dale Cooper — Twin Peaks character
Dale Horvath — The Walking Dead (TV series)
Dale Gribble — King of the Hill (TV series)

What Dales become

Among 1,030 notable people named Dale:

Sports figures appear 1.96× more often than among typical names — e.g. Dale Earnhardt, American racing driver (1951–2001).

Similar names: Dael · Wayne · Danny · Lyle · Kelly · Truman

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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