Unisex name · Old English
Dale
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: valleyDale is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "valley". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Valley
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #15450 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Dale
As a gender-neutral name, Dale comes from Old English and means "valley". It is used in English.
As a boy's name, Dale comes from Old English and means "valley". It is used in English.
Dale is also a surname: the 1,219th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 28,382 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Dale on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Dale on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Dale on 7 lists.
“Means valley; simple and down to earth”
From Redneck names for boys, classic country boy names
“Valley; English. A surname for someone who lived in a dale”
From Boy middle names, vintage male middle names
“Simple, country and steady”
From Funny names for turkeys, boy turkey names (for toms)
“Valley; Old English, mostly a boy's name, sometimes a girl's”
From Gender neutral names, short gender-neutral names
“Valley; English surname for someone who lived in one”
From Nature names, nature names for boys
“Valley; Old English. Shared with racer Earnhardt”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
“For a family living in a valley”
From Pretty last names, beautiful last names from nature
How popular is Dale?
In 2025, 5 girls and 129 boys in the US were named Dale.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #15,450
- 5 babies, 3 per million girls
- Best rank
- #236 in 1952
- 1,108 babies that year
- Babies since 1887
- At least 21,887
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 10 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 36 per million |
| 1900s | 40 per million |
| 1910s | 56 per million |
| 1920s | 66 per million |
| 1930s | 137 per million |
| 1940s | 386 per million |
| 1950s | 449 per million |
| 1960s | 166 per million |
| 1970s | 55 per million |
| 1980s | 25 per million |
| 1990s | 15 per million |
| 2000s | 6 per million |
| 2010s | 2 per million |
| 2020s | 2 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,043 | #16,450 | #16,254 | – | – | #10,477 | – | #15,733 | – | #15,450 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,410
- 129 babies, 76 per million boys
- Best rank
- #46 in 1952
- Most babies: 8,502 in 1958
- Babies since 1881
- At least 278,156
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 110 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 246 per million |
| 1900s | 495 per million |
| 1910s | 1,231 per million |
| 1920s | 2,065 per million |
| 1930s | 3,079 per million |
| 1940s | 3,145 per million |
| 1950s | 3,738 per million |
| 1960s | 2,618 per million |
| 1970s | 1,094 per million |
| 1980s | 568 per million |
| 1990s | 319 per million |
| 2000s | 182 per million |
| 2010s | 85 per million |
| 2020s | 76 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,124 | #1,223 | #1,388 | #1,468 | #1,356 | #1,409 | #1,551 | #1,408 | #1,308 | #1,410 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Dale
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- DanteEnduring, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- DaveyBeloved (Hebrew, boy)
- DianeDivine (Latin, girl)
- DoyleDescendant of the dark stranger (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DaanGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- DagDay (Old Norse, boy)
- DahyeMany blessings (depends on characters) (Korean, girl)
- DainMany and kind (depends on hanja) (Korean, girl)
- DáireFruitful, fertile (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- GlenValley (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- GlennValley (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- CamdenFrom a surname from a place name, perhaps enclosed valley (Old English, boy)
- DallasFrom a surname meaning valley house or meadow dwelling (Old English, unisex)
- DeanFrom a surname meaning valley (Old English, boy)
- GlynA valley (Welsh, boy)
- GuyValley, ravine (Hebrew, boy)
- HaydenHay valley or hay hill (Old English, unisex)
- HoldenFrom a surname and place name meaning deep valley (Old English, boy)
- KendallValley of the River Kent (English, unisex)
Middle names for Dale
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Dale: common questions
What does the name Dale mean?
Dale comes from Old English and means "valley". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.
Is Dale a boy or girl name?
Dale is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 5 girls and 129 boys in the US were named Dale, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Dale come from?
Dale comes from Old English and means "valley". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Dale?
Dale ranked #15,450 in the US in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Dale?
Names spelled like Dale include Dante, Davey, Diane, Doyle and Daan.
What middle names go with Dale?
Middle names that flow well with Dale include Alice, Asher, Evander, Holly and Leland. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.