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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201937peak #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 1937

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedAKMaine: #45 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 193 boysMEVermont: #42 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 172 boysVTNew Hampshire: #92 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 606 boysNHWashington: #32 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 154 boysWAIdaho: #17 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 81 boysIDMontana: #31 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 139 boysMTNorth Dakota: #29 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 113 boysNDMinnesota: #20 for boys · 230 births · 1 in 92 boysMNIllinois: #36 for boys · 283 births · 1 in 191 boysILWisconsin: #29 for boys · 172 births · 1 in 140 boysWIMichigan: #33 for boys · 249 births · 1 in 168 boysMINew York: #122 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 1,032 boysNYMassachusetts: #167 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,577 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedRIOregon: #25 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 117 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedNVWyoming: #34 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 128 boysWYSouth Dakota: #18 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 93 boysSDIowa: #21 for boys · 192 births · 1 in 101 boysIAIndiana: #33 for boys · 140 births · 1 in 181 boysINOhio: #33 for boys · 279 births · 1 in 179 boysOHPennsylvania: #51 for boys · 260 births · 1 in 283 boysPANew Jersey: #163 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,892 boysNJConnecticut: #120 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,103 boysCTCalifornia: #64 for boys · 142 births · 1 in 304 boysCAUtah: #23 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 114 boysUTColorado: #26 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 135 boysCONebraska: #28 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 134 boysNEMissouri: #39 for boys · 137 births · 1 in 194 boysMOKentucky: #158 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 989 boysKYWest Virginia: #69 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 343 boysWVVirginia: #289 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,763 boysVAMaryland: #100 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 651 boysMDDelaware: #60 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 330 boysDEArizona: #97 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 378 boysAZNew Mexico: #100 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 367 boysNMKansas: #25 for boys · 97 births · 1 in 134 boysKSArkansas: #75 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 325 boysARTennessee: #191 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,433 boysTNNorth Carolina: #190 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,208 boysNCSouth Carolina: #338 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,842 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #40 for boys · 103 births · 1 in 194 boysOKLouisiana: #197 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,187 boysLAMississippi: #267 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,301 boysMSAlabama: #245 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,977 boysALGeorgia: #308 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,234 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Dale, so not publishedHITexas: #164 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 778 boysTXFlorida: #215 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,603 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Idaho#17 · 1 in 81
  2. South Dakota#18 · 1 in 93
  3. Minnesota#20 · 1 in 92
  4. Iowa#21 · 1 in 101
  5. Utah#23 · 1 in 114

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Idaho#17521 in 81
South Dakota#18511 in 93
Minnesota#202301 in 92
Iowa#211921 in 101
Utah#23451 in 114
Kansas#25971 in 134
Oregon#25561 in 117
Colorado#26671 in 135
Nebraska#28731 in 134
North Dakota#29481 in 113
Wisconsin#291721 in 140
Montana#31301 in 139
Washington#32711 in 154
Indiana#331401 in 181
Michigan#332491 in 168
Ohio#332791 in 179
Wyoming#34131 in 128
Illinois#362831 in 191
Missouri#391371 in 194
Oklahoma#401031 in 194
Vermont#42141 in 172
Maine#45321 in 193
Pennsylvania#512601 in 283
Delaware#6051 in 330
California#641421 in 304
West Virginia#69541 in 343
Arkansas#75541 in 325
New Hampshire#9251 in 606
Arizona#97121 in 378
Maryland#100181 in 651
New Mexico#100151 in 367
Connecticut#12091 in 1,103
New York#122831 in 1,032
Kentucky#158261 in 989
New Jersey#163131 in 1,892
Texas#164731 in 778
Massachusetts#167111 in 2,577
North Carolina#190291 in 1,208
Tennessee#191181 in 1,433
Louisiana#197171 in 1,187
Florida#21581 in 1,603
Alabama#245141 in 1,977
Mississippi#26791 in 2,301
Virginia#28981 in 2,763
Georgia#30891 in 3,234
South Carolina#33851 in 3,842
Alaska———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Nevada———
Rhode Island———

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 1937

girls
#485
182 births · 1 in 5,846 girls
boys
#59
3,340 births · 1 in 319 boys

Top girls' names in 1937

  1. #1Mary55,641
  2. #2Barbara34,917
  3. #3Patricia26,838
  4. #4Shirley26,823
  5. #5Betty25,337
  6. #6Carol17,336
  7. #7Nancy17,074
  8. #8Dorothy16,572
  9. #9Joan15,301
  10. #10Margaret15,144
  11. #485Dale182

Top boys' names in 1937

  1. #1Robert61,842
  2. #2James56,561
  3. #3John48,755
  4. #4William40,725
  5. #5Richard32,975
  6. #6Charles30,520
  7. #7Donald27,868
  8. #8David20,981
  9. #9Thomas19,772
  10. #10George18,439
  11. #59Dale3,340
More about 1937

girls

1,064,033 girls got a published name in 1937; 1 in 5,846 of them was named Dale, which outranked 90.2% of the 4,930 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dale
  1. #481Ophelia184
  2. #483Evangeline183
  3. #483Marlyn183
  4. #485Dale182
  5. #485Ladonna182
  6. #487Andrea181
  7. #488Rosalyn180
  8. #489Isabelle179

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1936
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,217Noreta#4,181 → #964
  2. ↑ 2,845Noretta#3,701 → #856
  3. ↑ 2,351Leilani#3,103 → #752
  4. ↑ 1,407Deann#2,263 → #856
  5. ↑ 1,209Norita#1,741 → #532
Fallers
  1. ↓ 438Dorla#951 → #1,389
  2. ↓ 331Vilma#951 → #1,282
  3. ↓ 303Imelda#979 → #1,282
  4. ↓ 297Lulu#695 → #992
  5. ↓ 292Lyda#840 → #1,132

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

boys

1,066,659 boys got a published name in 1937; 1 in 319 of them was named Dale, which outranked 98.5% of the 4,020 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dale
  1. #56Leroy3,556
  2. #57Stanley3,483
  3. #58Leonard3,480
  4. #59Dale3,340
  5. #60Alfred3,181
  6. #61Gene3,165
  7. #62Philip3,162
Biggest movers since 1936
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,923Tyrone#2,629 → #706
  2. ↑ 558Lamont#1,540 → #982
  3. ↑ 540Lary#1,540 → #1,000
  4. ↑ 416Errol#906 → #490
  5. ↑ 399Levon#1,356 → #957
Fallers
  1. ↓ 492Gaston#989 → #1,481
  2. ↓ 461Gorden#827 → #1,288
  3. ↓ 432Sergio#940 → #1,372
  4. ↓ 371Landon#422 → #793
  5. ↓ 347Harlen#747 → #1,094

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

See the top 100 for 1937 →