Dale

#14,942 for girls in 2025, 5 births · #1,409 for boys in 2025, 129 births
Given to boys 92.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1958 · 8,502 births
Debut · boys
6 births
In top 100 · boys
49 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
278,156
since 1881

Dale over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201921peak #236, 1952peak #46, 1958girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#14,9425#1,409129
2024—#1,308149
2023#15,1945#1,408130
2022—#1,551115
2021#10,2929#1,407130
2020—#1,353131
2019—#1,468118
2018#15,6825#1,385127
2017#15,9025#1,219150
2016#11,7818#1,124173
2015—#1,096177
2014#16,5135#1,070181
2013#9,61211#1,229146
2012—#1,115165
2011—#1,108166
2010#16,9925#1,019190
2009—#920225
2008#10,80710#836261
2007#12,6768#772284
2006#13,6067#735290
2005#10,12810#662323
2004#10,6909#607353
2003#7,58014#550408
2002#7,81613#496466
2001#5,17422#410612
2000#8,02712#536407
1999#8,80510#495442
1998#4,79622#466483
1997#5,41718#446503
1996#4,88320#412555
1995#4,09925#401570
1994#2,87741#365650
1993#3,77628#370641
1992#3,09137#341703
1991#3,81727#330759
1990#3,02237#285907
1989#3,16533#288855
1988#3,16531#267883
1987#2,61238#248931
1986#2,34443#237980
1985#2,39841#2191,093
1984#2,22744#2201,032
1983#1,99351#2121,096
1982#1,99152#2151,132
1981#2,11948#1971,248
1980#1,93655#1981,237
1979#2,14746#1881,274
1978#1,66963#1761,323
1977#1,97649#1761,360
1976#1,37378#1611,480
1975#1,60461#1591,528
1974#1,43870#1451,688
1973#1,33975#1411,802
1972#1,13397#1312,062
1971#919141#1252,545
1970#813170#1103,003
1969#739188#963,154
1968#826151#913,257
1967#761167#893,537
1966#648220#853,985
1965#602258#834,397
1964#556317#725,158
1963#510367#695,700
1962#497379#626,365
1961#462448#587,193
1960#418534#547,677
1959#411529#498,343
1958#381585#468,502
1957#353665#507,866
1956#308834#507,720
1955#2711,001#527,182
1954#2471,095#507,439
1953#2501,053#487,350
1952#2361,108#467,417
1951#250927#496,963
1950#263844#496,785
1949#257875#546,229
1948#258855#566,091
1947#267817#635,936
1946#287662#625,024
1945#309487#613,957
1944#330432#613,990
1943#335445#594,235
1942#357386#633,863
1941#378324#593,791
1940#382303#573,699
1939#401280#593,531
1938#466209#563,690
1937#485182#593,340
1936#457196#593,393
1935#519153#613,274
1934#617115#623,241
1933#82665#652,925
1932#73484#613,140
1931#77775#623,008
1930#69997#642,994
1929#85569#732,664
1928#77386#752,640
1927#76689#812,503
1926#82479#842,398
1925#80684#862,302
1924#74798#842,396
1923#78686#902,172
1922#93962#892,041
1921#86273#931,956
1920#90365#1051,680
1919#82373#1121,428
1918#84373#1111,491
1917#91657#1201,248
1916#89357#1211,161
1915#90053#1251,081
1914#1,03433#142691
1913#1,02028#155472
1912#84635#159371
1911#83826#203150
1910#87724#205125
1909#1,15213#207102
1908#97017#203100
1907#1,28910#24273
1906#1,3219#24066
1905#1,16211#24165
1904#1,05012#26053
1903#1,4407#24856
1902#93614#22663
1901#1,1369#27240
1900#94116#28154
1899#1,03410#26641
1898#1,3797#28840
1897#1,03710#28839
1896#1,2927#31236
1895#98611#36826
1894#99810#33628
1893#1,1757#43518
1892#1,0858#40422
1891#1,3325#42717
1890#1,3385#51114
1889—#41519
1888#1,1366#50515
1887#9377#54411
1886—#43117
1885—#34425
1884—#61310
1883—#55611
1882—#7547
1881—#7816
1880——
First appearance
1881

The first year at least five boys were named Dale! It came in at #781, and was given to 6 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1881–1882, when fewer than 8 boys a year got the name.

Where Dale is popular in 1921

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedNHWashington: #50 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 220 boysWAIdaho: #30 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 126 boysIDMontana: #70 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 308 boysMTNorth Dakota: #72 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 246 boysNDMinnesota: #71 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 310 boysMNIllinois: #59 for boys · 198 births · 1 in 284 boysILWisconsin: #86 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 394 boysWIMichigan: #69 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 362 boysMINew York: #426 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 9,252 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedRIOregon: #56 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 250 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedNVWyoming: #41 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 167 boysWYSouth Dakota: #27 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 110 boysSDIowa: #24 for boys · 190 births · 1 in 115 boysIAIndiana: #41 for boys · 127 births · 1 in 202 boysINOhio: #50 for boys · 209 births · 1 in 249 boysOHPennsylvania: #110 for boys · 103 births · 1 in 865 boysPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #142 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 891 boysCAUtah: #23 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 114 boysUTColorado: #42 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 195 boysCONebraska: #15 for boys · 156 births · 1 in 79 boysNEMissouri: #107 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 544 boysMOKentucky: #468 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,264 boysKYWest Virginia: #97 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 526 boysWVVirginia: #319 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,516 boysVAMaryland: #178 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,918 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedDEArizona: #134 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 568 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedNMKansas: #29 for boys · 134 births · 1 in 122 boysKSArkansas: #121 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 616 boysARTennessee: #325 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,090 boysTNNorth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #79 for boys · 62 births · 1 in 371 boysOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedLAMississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedHITexas: #320 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 2,093 boysTXFlorida: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Nebraska#15 · 1 in 79
  2. Utah#23 · 1 in 114
  3. Iowa#24 · 1 in 115
  4. South Dakota#27 · 1 in 110
  5. Kansas#29 · 1 in 122

Best ever in a state: #11 in Idaho, 1927.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nebraska#151561 in 79
Utah#23441 in 114
Iowa#241901 in 115
South Dakota#27581 in 110
Kansas#291341 in 122
Idaho#30331 in 126
Indiana#411271 in 202
Wyoming#41101 in 167
Colorado#42451 in 195
Ohio#502091 in 249
Washington#50461 in 220
Oregon#56241 in 250
Illinois#591981 in 284
Michigan#69981 in 362
Montana#70151 in 308
Minnesota#71711 in 310
North Dakota#72271 in 246
Oklahoma#79621 in 371
Wisconsin#86611 in 394
West Virginia#97321 in 526
Missouri#107541 in 544
Pennsylvania#1101031 in 865
Arkansas#121291 in 616
Arizona#13461 in 568
California#142321 in 891
Maryland#17871 in 1,918
Virginia#31971 in 3,516
Texas#320251 in 2,093
Tennessee#32581 in 3,090
New York#426101 in 9,252
Kentucky#46851 in 5,264
Alabama———
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Carolina———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
Vermont———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Dale
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 101 spots since 2024 (#1,308 → #1,409)
  • 56 spots since 2020 (#1,353 → #1,409)
  • 313 spots since 2015 (#1,096 → #1,409)
  • Biggest jump: 269 spots in 1885 (#613 → #344)
  • Biggest drop: 113 spots in 1887 (#431 → #544)
Rise & fade · boys
77 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1881
  • Peaked 1958 at #46 (8,502 births)
  • Births halved by 1966, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 49 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 49 yrs · run 1921–1969
  • Top 1,000: 129 yrs · run 1881–2009
Share of babies · boys
1 in 250
  • Highest: 1 in 250 boys born in 1958 were named Dale (0.40%)
  • Latest: 1 in 13,241 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 27.2% of all boys named Dale (75,567) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Never flipped
  • The majority has never changed
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s121#344 (1885)#549
1890s281#266 (1899)#364
1900s672#203 (1908)#242
1910s8,218#111 (1918)#145
1920s22,752#73 (1929)#86
1930s32,536#56 (1938)#61
1940s46,815#54 (1949)#60
1950s75,567#46 (1958)#49
1960s50,423#54 (1960)#76
1970s18,065#110 (1970)#151
1980s10,487#197 (1981)#230
1990s6,213#285 (1990)#391
2000s3,629#410 (2001)#652
2010s1,593#1,019 (2010)#1,183
2020s784#1,308 (2024)#1,406

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Dale in 1921

girls
#862
73 births · 1 in 16,891 girls
boys
#93
1,956 births · 1 in 563 boys

Top girls' names in 1921

  1. #1Mary73,984
  2. #2Dorothy39,087
  3. #3Helen34,822
  4. #4Margaret28,468
  5. #5Ruth25,783
  6. #6Virginia19,032
  7. #7Mildred17,880
  8. #8Betty17,638
  9. #9Frances15,993
  10. #10Elizabeth15,800
  11. #862Dale73

Top boys' names in 1921

  1. #1John58,216
  2. #2Robert52,779
  3. #3William51,862
  4. #4James49,750
  5. #5Charles29,242
  6. #6George27,476
  7. #7Joseph26,182
  8. #8Edward20,817
  9. #9Frank16,705
  10. #10Richard16,376
  11. #93Dale1,956
More about 1921

girls

1,233,058 girls got a published name in 1921; 1 in 16,891 of them was named Dale, which outranked 85.3% of the 5,871 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dale
  1. #857Loma74
  2. #857Santa74
  3. #857Walter74
  4. #862Dale73
  5. #862Darline73
  6. #862Lera73
  7. #862Ozella73
  8. #868Diane72
  9. #868Hilma72
  10. #868Josefa72

Tied with 5 names at #862; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1920
Risers
  1. ↑ 4,238Elwanda#4,975 → #737
  2. ↑ 458Noreen#1,255 → #797
  3. ↑ 440Venice#1,375 → #935
  4. ↑ 343Isobel#1,312 → #969
  5. ↑ 306Aida#1,119 → #813
Fallers
  1. ↓ 612Lilia#931 → #1,543
  2. ↓ 345Denise#931 → #1,276
  3. ↓ 330Aleen#968 → #1,298
  4. ↓ 269Virgil#968 → #1,237
  5. ↓ 265Aldona#903 → #1,168

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,101,449 boys got a published name in 1921; 1 in 563 of them was named Dale, which outranked 98.1% of the 4,985 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 31.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dale
  1. #90Edgar2,014
  2. #91Arnold1,982
  3. #92Oscar1,978
  4. #93Dale1,956
  5. #94Allen1,937
  6. #95Everett1,913
  7. #96Claude1,887
Biggest movers since 1920
Risers
  1. ↑ 828Kevin#1,543 → #715
  2. ↑ 499Enrico#1,157 → #658
  3. ↑ 435Richmond#1,225 → #790
  4. ↑ 427Reynaldo#1,252 → #825
  5. ↑ 425Art#1,416 → #991
Fallers
  1. ↓ 391Stacy#835 → #1,226
  2. ↓ 279Gorden#947 → #1,226
  3. ↓ 248Brady#653 → #901
  4. ↓ 246Guillermo#812 → #1,058
  5. ↓ 219Lindsay#903 → #1,122

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1921 →