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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dale

Dale

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAYL /deɪl/Low

Meaning: Valley, low-lying land between hillsLow

In 30 seconds: Dale is a crisp Old Norse and Old English word meaning valley. As a one-syllable name it evokes the peaceful lowland valleys of the English and Scandinavian landscape, and was a popular mid-century American masculine name.
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Origin LowOld Norse, English
MeaningValley, low-lying land between hills
U.S. rank (2025)#1410 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births129 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1958
Total births (all-time)≈ 278,147

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195818812025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dale comes from the Old Norse dalr and Old English dæl, both meaning valley. As a given name it was popular in the United States in the mid-20th century, carried by figures like Dale Carnegie and NASCAR pioneer Dale Earnhardt.

Dale has a warm, retro quality in the United States and works as a given name and a surname. Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People made Dale a household name in the 1930s.

Did you know? Dales are the famous valleys of Yorkshire, England — Wharfedale, Wensleydale, Swaledale — whose names and landscapes inspired generations of writers and walkers. The Yorkshire Dales National Park preserves some of England's most beautiful valley scenery.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Dale

Variations

DayleDael

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

  • ★Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)
    American writer and lecturer, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People

If you like Dale…

Dean— One-syllable valley-adjacent name of same generation
Lane— One-syllable path name of same simple character
Wayne— One-syllable American mid-century name
Clay— One-syllable earthy American name of same era

Explore names like Dale

By themeenglishamericanvintageone-syllablenorsevalley
By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does Dale mean?

Dale means valley from Old Norse dalr and Old English dæl.

Is Dale a popular name?

Dale was popular in the United States in the mid-20th century. Today it has warm vintage appeal.

How do you pronounce Dale?

Dale is pronounced DAYL, a single syllable.

What names are similar to Dale?

Similar one-syllable names include Dean, Lane, and Wayne.

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