Del Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DEL //dɛl//
Origin: English; Hebrew; Irish
Meaning: English: from the valley; Hebrew: God is my judge; Irish: noble
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Del has its roots in Old English and is derived from the word "dell," which refers to a small valley or hollow. This term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *dallaz, which also means a valley or a low-lying area.
The transition into English occurred through the influence of Old Norse and Middle English, where the term evolved to describe geographical features, eventually becoming a surname and a given name in its own right. The name Del can also be seen as a diminutive form of names such as Delbert or Delmar, which have their own distinct etymological paths.
Historically, the name Del has been associated with various cultural and literary figures. Although not as prominent as some other names, it has appeared in literature and folklore, often symbolizing a connection to nature due to its geographical connotation.
The use of Del as a given name can be traced back to the 19th century, when it began to gain traction in English-speaking countries, reflecting a broader trend of adopting nature-inspired names during that period. Culturally, the name Del resonates with themes of tranquility and simplicity, evoking images of serene landscapes and pastoral settings.
This connection to the natural world has contributed to its endurance as a name choice. Additionally, the name has been used in various artistic expressions, including music and literature, further embedding it within cultural narratives.
While the name Del may not have the same historical weight as some biblical or royal names, its linguistic roots and associations with nature provide a unique perspective on its significance.
Famous people named Del
In this section, you will find notable people named Del. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Del who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Del who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Del Shannon is a singer-songwriter best known for Runaway, Hats Off to Larry, and Little Town Flirt.
Fictional characters named Del
The following list of fictional characters named Del is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Del is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. He is a key ally who assists Link in various quests throughout the games.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Del, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Del. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Del was first seen in the United States in 1909.
Del has ranked as high as #977 nationally, which occurred in 1958, and has been most popular in California, Washington, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Del has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Del is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Del was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Del (1999)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Del.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 1999 | 17 |
| 1998 | 12 |
| 1997 | 15 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1994 | 15 |
| 1993 | 18 |
| 1992 | 14 |
| 1991 | 27 |
| 1990 | 22 |
| 1989 | 21 |
| 1988 | 18 |
| 1987 | 25 |
| 1986 | 18 |
| 1985 | 25 |
| 1984 | 27 |
| 1983 | 16 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1981 | 21 |
| 1980 | 20 |
| 1979 | 37 |
| 1978 | 31 |
| 1977 | 24 |
| 1976 | 33 |
| 1975 | 38 |
| 1974 | 43 |
| 1973 | 30 |
| 1972 | 50 |
| 1971 | 61 |
| 1970 | 80 |
| 1969 | 77 |
| 1968 | 81 |
| 1967 | 72 |
| 1966 | 76 |
| 1965 | 105 |
| 1964 | 100 |
| 1963 | 122 |
| 1962 | 109 |
| 1961 | 90 |
| 1960 | 135 |
| 1959 | 140 |
| 1958 | 143 |
| 1957 | 130 |
| 1956 | 112 |
| 1955 | 112 |
| 1954 | 123 |
| 1953 | 90 |
| 1952 | 90 |
| 1951 | 83 |
| 1950 | 72 |
| 1949 | 63 |
| 1948 | 83 |
| 1947 | 87 |
| 1946 | 64 |
| 1945 | 41 |
| 1944 | 37 |
| 1943 | 49 |
| 1942 | 50 |
| 1941 | 37 |
| 1940 | 45 |
| 1939 | 42 |
| 1938 | 43 |
| 1937 | 41 |
| 1936 | 41 |
| 1935 | 29 |
| 1934 | 32 |
| 1933 | 34 |
| 1932 | 22 |
| 1931 | 27 |
| 1930 | 22 |
| 1929 | 25 |
| 1928 | 19 |
| 1927 | 20 |
| 1926 | 19 |
| 1925 | 16 |
| 1924 | 17 |
| 1923 | 18 |
| 1922 | 9 |
| 1921 | 13 |
| 1920 | 10 |
| 1919 | 15 |
| 1918 | 13 |
| 1917 | 9 |
| 1916 | 14 |
| 1915 | 28 |
| 1914 | 9 |
| 1913 | 9 |
| 1912 | 8 |
| 1911 | 6 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1909 | 5 |