Fun Facts About the Name Dal
- 628 babies named Dal: U.S. records list 628 babies given the name Dal from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Dal Mean?
Dal has several independent origins, so its meaning depends on the language. In Scandinavian usage, it comes from Old Norse dalr, meaning 'valley'; modern Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish dal has the same sense. In Turkish, dal means 'branch.' In Indic languages such as Hindi and Punjabi, dal (दल) has several senses, including 'petal' and 'group, party, army.' It appears as the first element in compound names like Dalbir and Daljit, where it carries the 'army/group' sense; the standalone given name Dal may also be understood as 'petal.' The similar-sounding dāl (दाल), meaning 'lentil,' is a different word and is not the source of the name. These origins are separate, so no single meaning applies to every bearer of the name.
Dal Name History & Origins
In Scandinavia, the word dalr was a common element in farm names and place names, and it later became a surname (for example, Dal and Dahl). It was not a traditional Scandinavian given name; modern use as a first name generally represents a transferred surname. The Swedish region Dalarna takes its name from the related word for 'valleys.'
In Turkish, dal is an everyday noun meaning 'branch'; its use as a personal name is rare and word-based rather than a long-established naming tradition.
In Punjabi and other Indic traditions, dal (दल) 'army, group' forms part of compound personal names. The same word can also mean 'petal.' Dal on its own is a shortening of those longer names or a word name. The homophone dāl (दाल) 'lentil' belongs to a separate word and does not explain the name. Because these histories are independent, Dal does not have a single line of development.
How Popular is the Name Dal?
Dal has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1957. Its best rank was #1,755 in 1944.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,946 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #11,187 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #9,954 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #9,166 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #9,785 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #11,065 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #11,067 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #9,891 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #9,773 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #7,669 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #8,963 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #12,664 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #11,041 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #6,944 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #4,397 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #5,719 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #6,433 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #5,373 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #4,611 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #5,122 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #4,501 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #3,579 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #2,727 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,948 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #2,261 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,823 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,033 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #2,444 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,130 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,408 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #2,341 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #2,230 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #2,324 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #2,398 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #1,801 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #2,293 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #3,019 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #1,907 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #2,307 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #2,559 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #2,532 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #3,091 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #2,367 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #3,058 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #2,705 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,627 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #3,062 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #1,755 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #2,095 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #2,291 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,013 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #2,213 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #1,977 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1938 | #2,515 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #2,229 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1935 | #2,574 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #2,601 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1933 | #2,585 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #3,144 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1931 | #3,159 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #3,299 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #2,743 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1926 | #4,337 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,348 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #3,980 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,540 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #3,960 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,927 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #4,319 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #4,111 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #2,874 | 8 | 0.0009% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Dal Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Dal's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dal's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.