Del
A diminutive of the male given name Derek.
Every Del since 1909 — 4,970 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Del
Del is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,417 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1909, 4,970 American babies have been named Del — about 86% boys and 14% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1958, when 168 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Del stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Del year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 9 | #8,417 |
| 2024 | — | — | 12 | #6,926 |
| 2023 | — | — | 14 | #6,287 |
| 2022 | — | — | 9 | #8,471 |
| 2021 | — | — | 12 | #6,798 |
| 2020 | — | — | 15 | #5,773 |
| 2019 | — | — | 10 | #7,772 |
| 2018 | — | — | 8 | #9,028 |
| 2017 | — | — | 6 | #11,091 |
| 2016 | — | — | 12 | #6,820 |
| 2015 | — | — | 7 | #9,796 |
| 2014 | — | — | 11 | #7,172 |
| 2013 | — | — | 15 | #5,728 |
| 2012 | — | — | 6 | #11,130 |
| 2011 | — | — | 5 | #12,738 |
| 2010 | — | — | 10 | #7,721 |
| 2009 | — | — | 9 | #8,461 |
| 2008 | — | — | 10 | #7,827 |
| 2007 | — | — | 13 | #6,347 |
| 2006 | — | — | 13 | #6,187 |
| 2005 | — | — | 15 | #5,358 |
| 2004 | — | — | 5 | #11,771 |
| 2003 | — | — | 9 | #7,379 |
| 2002 | — | — | 9 | #7,175 |
| 2001 | — | — | 9 | #7,053 |
| 2000 | — | — | 12 | #5,652 |
| 1995 | — | — | 11 | #5,218 |
| 1990 | — | — | 22 | #2,882 |
| 1985 | — | — | 25 | #2,183 |
| 1980 | — | — | 20 | #2,461 |
| 1975 | — | — | 38 | #1,436 |
| 1970 | 7 | #6,501 | 80 | #899 |
| 1965 | 13 | #3,589 | 105 | #726 |
| 1960 | 17 | #3,016 | 135 | #673 |
| 1955 | 20 | #2,487 | 113 | #691 |
| 1950 | 21 | #2,141 | 72 | #801 |
| 1945 | 15 | #2,257 | 41 | #999 |
| 1940 | 11 | #2,602 | 45 | #954 |
| 1935 | 11 | #2,611 | 29 | #1,253 |
| 1930 | 9 | #3,117 | 22 | #1,572 |
| 1925 | 6 | #4,549 | 16 | #2,028 |
| 1920 | — | — | 10 | #2,812 |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,442 | 28 | #1,243 |
| 1910 | — | — | 5 | #1,647 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Del
- Del Shannon Singer · 1934–1990
- Del Harris Actor · b. 1937
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Del mean?
A diminutive of the male given name Derek.
How popular is the name Del in 2025?
Del ranked #8,417 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Del?
4,970 babies have been named Del in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Del most popular?
Del peaked in 1958, when 168 newborns received the name.
Is Del a boy or girl name?
Del is used for both: about 14% of babies named Del have been girls and 86% boys.
Is the name Del rising or falling?
Del is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Del?
Well-known people named Del include Del Shannon (singer), Del Harris (actor).