Dale
Boy name · #1410 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
Dale is currently the #1410 boy name in the United States — 129 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1096, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,953 boys born in 2025 was named Dale.
Babies named Dale per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 144-year story
Dale first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1958, when 8,502 boys were named Dale — good for #46 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dale against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dale in class?
Dale scores 68 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Dale will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dale is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dale is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Dales were MI (11), CA (8), NY (8), MO (7), VA (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dale
Statistically, parents drawn to Dale tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Dave, Dwayne, Duane, Steve, and Daryl.
DaveDwayneDuaneSteveDarylDonnieMikeMonte
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dale | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 129 | #1409 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1308 |
| 2023 | 130 | #1408 |
| 2022 | 115 | #1551 |
| 2021 | 130 | #1407 |
| 2020 | 131 | #1353 |
| 2019 | 118 | #1468 |
| 2018 | 127 | #1385 |
| 2017 | 150 | #1219 |
| 2016 | 173 | #1124 |
| 2015 | 177 | #1096 |
| 2014 | 181 | #1070 |
| 2013 | 146 | #1229 |
| 2012 | 165 | #1115 |
| 2011 | 166 | #1108 |
| 2010 | 190 | #1019 |
| 2009 | 225 | #920 |
| 2008 | 261 | #836 |
| 2007 | 284 | #772 |
| 2006 | 290 | #735 |
| 2005 | 323 | #662 |
| 2004 | 353 | #607 |
| 2003 | 408 | #550 |
| 2002 | 466 | #496 |
| 2001 | 612 | #410 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dale a popular boy name?
Dale ranked #1410 among boys in 2025 with 129 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1096.
When was the name Dale most popular?
Dale peaked in 1958, when 8,502 American boys received the name (ranked #46 that year). Since 1958 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dale?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,953 newborn American boys was named Dale. It scores 68/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.