Daley

At a Glance

Meaning

Valley-dweller (English 'dale'); alt. Irish surname Ó Dálaigh, meaning uncertain

Origin

English or Irish (surname)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

DAY-leeListen

Daley is a neutral name with roots as both an English and an Irish surname, pronounced DAY-lee. In English it comes from 'dale,' meaning valley-dweller, while as the Irish surname Ó Dálaigh its meaning is actually uncertain. You may come across the claim that Daley means 'from the meadow,' but that's not quite accurate — it only reflects the English 'dale' reading and leaves out the Irish surname side, whose meaning isn't clearly settled.

Meaning & Origin of Daley

Meaning: Valley-dweller (English 'dale'); alt. Irish surname Ó Dálaigh, meaning uncertain.

Origin: English or Irish (surname).

A common claim: from the meadow Actually: 'From the meadow' loosely renders only the English-'dale' (valley) reading and ignores the equally plausible Irish surname origin, whose meaning is actually uncertain rather than clearly 'meadow'.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Daley

Popularity of Daley

Daley reached its highest-ever SSA ranking in 1943, at #3016, with 7 babies given the name that year. By 2024 the count was still 7, but the rank had slipped to #10082.

Names Like Daley

These names share Daley’s style, era or origin.

• Calloway
• Indra
• Kea
• Murphy
• Oslo
• Tala

FAQ

What does the name Daley mean?

Valley-dweller (English ‘dale’); alt. Irish surname Ó Dálaigh, meaning uncertain. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Daley?

Daley is pronounced DAY-lee (IPA: /ˈdeɪli/).

Is Daley a popular name right now?

Daley peaked at #3016 in 1943 and is ranked #10082 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)

Make Daley Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Daley, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.