Daley

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAY-lee /ˈdeɪ.li/High

Meaning: From the Irish surname O Dalaigh (Ó Dálaigh), based on dail, 'assembly; gathering' — the family of the famous bardic poets. As a surname it is borne by men and women alike but passes in the male line; used here as a girl's given name, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: An Irish surname turned first name: Daley traces to dail, 'assembly' (said 'DAY-lee'). Usually a male surname — we note the lean.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumIrish

MeaningFrom the Irish surname O Dalaigh (Ó Dálaigh), based on dail, 'assembly; gathering' — the family of the famous bardic poets. As a surname it is borne by men and women alike but passes in the male line; used here as a girl's given name, which we note.

U.S. rank (2024)#15773 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2002

Total births (all-time)≈ 461

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Daley anglicizes the Irish Ó Dálaigh, from dail, 'assembly; gathering.' The Ó Dálaigh were hereditary poets to Irish chieftains. As a first name it is new and rare; it is usually encountered as a surname, more often carried by men, which we note honestly (said 'DAY-lee').

As a girls' given name it appears very rarely in the U.S. Rare, Irish, and surname-styled.

Did you know? Daley comes from the Irish O Dalaigh, a surname built on dail, 'assembly' — the family that produced Ireland's great bardic poets. It is chiefly known as a surname, and as a given name it reads unisex, which we note (said 'DAY-lee').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Daley — Irish surname O Dalaigh; 'assembly'; cross-sex

Variations

DalyDaileyDaileigh

Nicknames

DayLee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Daley…

Bailey— a like -ley surname name for girls

Hadley— a like surname-style pick

Kelley— a like Irish surname name

Marley— a like breezy -ley choice

Explore names like Daley

By themeunisex irish surname cross-sex

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Daley mean?

Daley is an Irish surname from dail, 'assembly; gathering,' borne by a famous family of bardic poets.

How do you pronounce Daley?

It's said DAY-lee /ˈdeɪ.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Daley a boy or girl name?

Daley is used here as a girl's name, but it is chiefly an Irish surname and reads unisex — we note the lean.

How popular is Daley?

Daley is a very rare given name for girls in the U.S.