Dalyla
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "slender branch".
Name Census estimates that about 591 living Americans carry the first name Dalyla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dalyla today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dalyla births was 2009 (42 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dalyla. 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
591
~ 1 in 579,957 Americans
Peak year
2009
42 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,980
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Dalyla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dalyla 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 298 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Dalyla remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dalyla 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 Dalyla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Dalylas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Indiana recorded the most babies named Dalyla, while Indiana, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 31 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dalyla
The name Dalyla is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle East and North Africa region. It is derived from the Arabic word "dalal," which means "gentleness" or "tenderness." The name first gained popularity in the Islamic world during the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Dalyla can be found in Arabic literature and poetry. It was often used as a symbolic representation of beauty, grace, and femininity. In some ancient Arabic texts, the name is associated with the legendary figure Dalyla, who is portrayed as a seductive and cunning woman known for her charm and influence over men.
The name Dalyla has been carried by several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One such figure was Dalyla bint Muqrin, a 7th-century Arab poetess and warrior who fought alongside her tribe during the early Islamic conquests. Her poetry and bravery were widely celebrated in her time.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Dalyla al-Muddathir, a 10th-century Arab physician and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. She was renowned for her expertise in treating various ailments and her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants.
In the 12th century, Dalyla al-Khwarizmi was a renowned mathematician and astronomer from the Persian region. She is credited with advancing the study of algebra and introducing innovative methods for solving complex equations.
During the Ottoman Empire, Dalyla Khanum was a prominent figure in the 16th century. She was a skilled calligrapher and artist, known for her intricate calligraphic works and miniature paintings, which adorned the walls of palaces and mosques.
In more recent history, Dalyla Bagheri was an Iranian activist and human rights defender who fought against the oppression of women in her country. She was imprisoned and executed in the 1980s for her advocacy work, becoming a symbol of resistance and courage.
While the name Dalyla has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found recognition across various regions and ethnicities throughout history. Its origins and associations with gentleness, beauty, and strength have contributed to its enduring appeal and timeless quality.
People
Dalyla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dalyla 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
Dalyla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dalyla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 591 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dalyla 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 579,957 US residents.
Is Dalyla a common name?
We classify Dalyla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 597 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dalyla most popular?
The single biggest year for Dalyla was 2009, when 42 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dalyla is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dalyla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dalyla 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.