What does Dale mean?
Dale means “Valley”.
Dale is an English word and surname associated with a valley. As a surname, it could identify someone by the landscape where they lived; as a given name, it retains that quiet geographical meaning. The connection is direct and does not depend on a modern symbolic interpretation of nature.
Dale has been used for boys and girls. Singer Dale Evans provides a familiar female example, while artist Dale Chihuly is a recognizable male bearer. The single syllable makes the name easy to keep in full without an additional nickname. Vale offers a meaning comparison, but it is a separate word and name rather than a spelling variation of Dale.
Nicknames & variations
No nicknames or variations are listed for Dale yet.
How popular is Dale?
United States · 2025Explore how often Dale is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US boys rank
- #1,410 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Boys named Dale
- 129 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 13.4% Fewer than 2024
Dale over time
United States · Boys
Recorded births
Hover or tap the chart, or move the slider. You can also use the keyboard arrow keys.
Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights boys, the most common recorded usage in 2025. Use the chart’s usage selector to explore both categories.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | #1,410 | 129 |
| 2025 | Girls | #15,450 | 5 |
| 2024 | Boys | #1,308 | 149 |
| 2023 | Boys | #1,408 | 130 |
| 2023 | Girls | #15,733 | 5 |
| 2022 | Boys | #1,551 | 115 |
| 2021 | Boys | #1,409 | 130 |
| 2021 | Girls | #10,477 | 9 |
| 2020 | Boys | #1,356 | 131 |
| 2019 | Boys | #1,468 | 118 |
| 2018 | Boys | #1,388 | 127 |
| 2018 | Girls | #16,254 | 5 |
| 2017 | Boys | #1,223 | 150 |
| 2017 | Girls | #16,450 | 5 |
| 2016 | Boys | #1,124 | 173 |
| 2016 | Girls | #12,043 | 8 |
| 2015 | Boys | #1,096 | 177 |
| 2014 | Boys | #1,072 | 181 |
| 2014 | Girls | #17,179 | 5 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Dale
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
Dael
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Valley, through Dale
Listed as a related name to Dale.
Slade
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Valley
Shares the recorded meaning “Valley” with Dale.
Glenn
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Valley
Shares the recorded meaning “Valley” with Dale.
James
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Supplanter
Shares an origin with Dale.
Jack
Mostly boys- Meaning
- God is gracious
Shares an origin with Dale.
Hudson
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Hugh's son
Shares an origin with Dale.
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