Dally
A diminutive form of the name Dallin, of uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 313 living Americans carry the first name Dally. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dally today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dally births was 2018 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dally. 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
313
~ 1 in 1,095,062 Americans
Peak year
2018
23 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,642
Tracked since 1995
Popularity
Dally: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dally from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 145 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Dally remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dally 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 Dally during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Dallys live
Origin
Meaning and history of Dally
Dally is a given name with origins that can be traced back to the Middle English period, specifically to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dalian," which means "to linger" or "to delay." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with someone who was perceived as taking their time or being unhurried in their actions.
The earliest recorded use of the name Dally can be found in historical records from the late 14th century, where it appeared as a surname. It wasn't until the 16th century that the name began to gain popularity as a given name, particularly in England and parts of Scotland.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Dally was Sir John Dally, an English nobleman who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure during the Wars of the Roses and served as a knight under King Edward IV.
In the 17th century, a notable figure named Dally Norwood gained recognition as a prominent English merchant and trader. He was actively involved in the East India Company and played a significant role in the expansion of British trade in Asia.
Another historical figure associated with the name Dally was Dally Mercer, a Scottish military officer who lived in the late 18th century. He served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and was renowned for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
In the 19th century, Dally Watkins, a Welsh poet and writer, made a name for himself with his contributions to the literary world. Born in 1838, he gained recognition for his works that celebrated the Welsh culture and language.
Towards the latter part of the 19th century, Dally Messenger, an Australian rugby union player, achieved fame as one of the pioneers of the sport in his country. Born in 1887, he played a pivotal role in the early development of rugby union in Australia and is considered a legendary figure in the sport's history.
While the name Dally may not be as common in modern times, its historical significance and unique etymology make it an intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with a rich heritage and a sense of character.
People
Dally + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dally 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
Dally: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dally?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 313 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dally 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 1,095,062 US residents.
Is Dally a common name?
We classify Dally as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 316 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dally most popular?
The single biggest year for Dally was 2018, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dally is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dally a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dally 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.