Del Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Del has its roots in Old English, meaning 'small valley'. It has evolved from 'dell' in Old English to its modern form. Del is often seen as a diminutive, carrying traits of friendliness and approachability. There is no significant biblical relevance associated with the name. It gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in America, and is commonly used as a nickname.
The name Del is most popular in Washington, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Del has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Del' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2069th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1153rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 723rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1124th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3027th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6701st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7240th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4543rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2614th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2757th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8445th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Del' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Del"
Pronunciation
/dɛl/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Del' is derived from the Old English word 'dell', meaning a small valley or hollow. It is often used as a diminutive form of names such as 'Delbert' or 'Delilah'.
Meaning
small valley
Language Evolution
Old English: dell, Middle English: del, Modern English: Del
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, often as a nickname or shortened form of longer names.
Variants & Derivatives
Delbert, Delilah, Della
Modern Popularity & Image
The name Del is perceived as friendly and approachable, often associated with a down-to-earth personality.
Famous People
Del Close, an influential improvisational theater actor and director., Delilah, a popular figure in various cultural contexts.
Explore More Del Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Del"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Del"
"Del" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2069th of 7545 | 243 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1153rd of 6773 | 636 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 723rd of 7552 | 1,948 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1124th of 10718 | 858 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3027th of 16616 | 304 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6701st of 24088 | 169 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7240th of 23106 | 131 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4543rd of 9107 | 68 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2614th of 9204 | 209 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2757th of 12526 | 328 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 8445th of 19264 | 67 |
Regional Popularity of "Del" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - |
76.36% 872nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
58.99% 912th/1546 |
- |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
37.30% 577th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
28.42% 633rd/2227 |
39.51% 960th/2430 |
39.19% 1118th/2853 |
19.06% 529th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
34.08% 1001st/2937 |
48.21% 1679th/3483 |
47.07% 1656th/3518 |
27.37% 1107th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
59.17% 2648th/4475 |
- |
58.33% 3685th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
- | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Del" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Del"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Del" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.