Find out how popular the first name Daly has been for the last 37 years (from 1988 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Daly by gender

Based on the last 37 years of data, Daly is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 87% of people named Daly being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Daly.

The history of the first name Daly

The name Daly is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "dail," which means "assembly" or "meeting place." This name has its origins in ancient Celtic culture and can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland.

The name Daly is closely associated with the Dáil Éireann, the principal chamber of the Irish parliament. It is believed that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or was associated with an important meeting place or assembly area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Daly dates back to the 12th century. In the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the 17th century, there is a reference to a man named Daly O'Hanlon, who was a chief of the O'Hanlon clan in County Armagh, Ireland.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Daly. One of the most renowned was Denis Daly (1638-1690), an Irish Jacobite soldier and landowner who fought for the Catholic King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland. Another was Augustin Daly (1838-1899), an American playwright, theater manager, and critic who was influential in the development of American theater in the late 19th century.

In the field of literature, the name Daly is associated with the Irish writer and politician Dominic Daly (1798-1868), who served as a member of the British House of Commons and wrote several works on Irish history and politics.

In sports, one of the most famous bearers of the name Daly was John Daly (born 1966), an American professional golfer known for his prodigious driving distance and colorful personality. He won two major championships, the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship.

Another notable individual with the name Daly was Michael Daly (1924-2008), an Irish Republican Army member and writer who was actively involved in the Irish republican movement and served as the editor of the Irish Democrat newspaper.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Daly was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Daly, please contact us.

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