Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1958

Del

Meaning A diminutive of the male given name Derek Gender Unisex · 14% girls Rank 2025 #8,417

A diminutive of the male given name Derek.

Rank 2025
#8,417
among boys · ↓1,491 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
9
named Del
How common
1 in 189,786
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1958
168 babies
All-time total
4,970
#1,971 all-time among boys
First recorded
1909
in Social Security records

Del popularity over time

4,970 babies have been named Del since 1909, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – 5 5 1 – #1,506
1910s 17 116 133 13 +2560% #1,243
1920s 69 166 235 24 +77% #1,453
1930s 123 333 456 46 +94% #968
1940s 109 556 665 67 +46% #738
1950s 216 1,095 1,311 131 +97% #644
1960s 126 967 1,093 109 -17% #673
1970s 12 427 439 44 -60% #899
1980s – 201 201 20 -54% #1,991
1990s – 167 167 17 -17% #2,562
2000s – 104 104 10 -38% #5,358
2010s – 90 90 9 -13% #5,728
2020s (to 2025) – 71 71 12 +31% #5,773

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.

How old are people named Del?

The median living Del is about 63 years old; half are between 53 and 71. An estimated 3,400 people named Del are alive in the United States today.

median 63 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Del Shannon Del Shannon American musician (1934–1990) Contemporary
  2. 2 Del Harris Del Harris American basketball coach (born 1937) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Del, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Del?

The median living Del is about 63 years old. Half of all living Dels are between 53 and 71 years old.

How many people named Del are alive today?

An estimated 3,400 people named Del are alive in the United States, based on 4,970 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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).

Names like Del

Names that sound and feel close to Del: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Del with similar names → More names starting with D →