Dali
A name of Hindi origin meaning "brave or daring".
Name Census estimates that about 202 living Americans carry the first name Dali. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 75.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Dali today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dali births was 2008 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dali. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
202
~ 1 in 1,696,804 Americans
Peak year
2008
14 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,189
Tracked since 1992
Gender
Gender distribution for Dali
Dali is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 204 total registrations, 51 (25.0%) were male and 153 (75.0%) were female.
Dali as a male name
- Ranked #11,189 in 2024
- 6 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2014 (7 births)
Dali as a female name
- Ranked #12,421 in 2024
- 7 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (9 births)
Popularity
Dali: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dali from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 61 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dali by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dali during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dali
The name Dali is believed to have its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the ancient Sanskrit language. It is derived from the word "dalita," which means "broken" or "split." This name was initially used to refer to individuals from lower castes or oppressed social groups.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dali can be found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a character. In this ancient text, Dali is portrayed as a wise and compassionate figure who advocated for social equality and justice.
During the medieval period, the name Dali gained popularity among Buddhists in various parts of Asia. It was associated with the principles of non-violence, compassion, and spiritual enlightenment. The famous Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dali Lama, who lived in the 15th century, is believed to have popularized the name further.
In the modern era, one of the most notable figures with the name Dali was the renowned Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali (1904-1989). His eccentric personality and groundbreaking works, such as "The Persistence of Memory," have made him an iconic figure in the art world.
Another prominent individual with the name Dali was the Indian cricketer Dali Hazare (1910-2003), who captained the Indian national team and was known for his exceptional batting skills. He was a key figure in the early days of Indian cricket and played a significant role in popularizing the sport in the country.
The name Dali has also been associated with political and social activism. Dali Mpofu (born 1962) is a prominent South African lawyer and politician who has been a vocal advocate for human rights and social justice causes.
In the world of literature, Dali Dong (born 1973) is a renowned Chinese writer and poet whose works explore themes of identity, belonging, and the human condition. Her poetic and evocative writing has earned her critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
It is important to note that while the name Dali has its roots in ancient Indian culture, it has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, gaining recognition and popularity across various regions and societies throughout history.
People
Dali + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dali as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dali: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dali?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 202 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dali going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,696,804 US residents.
Is Dali a common name?
We classify Dali as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 204 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dali most popular?
The single biggest year for Dali was 2008, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dali is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dali a female name?
Yes, 75.0% of people registered as Dali in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.