Find out how popular the first name Del has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Del by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Del is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 13 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Del.

The history of the first name Del

The name Del is a diminutive form of names like Delmar, Delroy, or Delmore. It is derived from the French word "de la" meaning "of the" or "from the", often used to indicate someone's place of origin. The name has its roots in the medieval era when surnames were just emerging, and people were often referred to by their place of birth or residence.

Del's etymology can be traced back to the Latin word "de" meaning "from" or "of". This Latin preposition was commonly used in medieval times to form place names and surnames, such as de Ville (of the town) or de la Rivière (of the river). The shortened form "Del" likely emerged as a nickname or informal way of addressing someone with a longer place-based surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Del can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry "Del de Burgo" refers to someone from the borough or town.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the first name Del. One of the earliest was Del Cano (c. 1498-1526), a Spanish navigator who completed the first circumnavigation of the world after the death of Ferdinand Magellan. Another was Del Shannon (1934-1990), an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1961 hit "Runaway".

In the realm of sports, Del Ennis (1925-1996) was an American professional baseball player who spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. Del Rice (1934-1983) was an American football player and coach, playing for the Baltimore Colts and later serving as head coach for the New England Patriots.

In the literary world, Del Millers (1868-1938) was an American author and screenwriter who wrote several novels and screenplays, including the 1926 film "Mantrap". Del Shores (born 1958) is a contemporary American playwright, actor, and author known for his works exploring LGBTQ+ themes.

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 Del was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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