Del
Del is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Short form of Delbert ('noble and bright') or Delano ('from the nut tree grove').
Origin and history
Del originated as a short form of masculine names like Delbert or Delano, or as a topographic name derived from the French preposition meaning 'of the'. It gained steady use in the early-to-mid 20th century in the United States and remains a concise, vintage choice today. Modern usage is relatively rare, often chosen as an informal standalone name or family nod.
Popularity in the United States
4,298 babies in the United States have been named Del since 1880. It ranks #1897 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1856.
States where it is most popular
- CA (33.6 %)
- WA (9.7 %)
- TX (8.1 %)
- OH (7.8 %)
- IL (7.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 116 |
| 1920-1930 | 166 |
| 1930-1940 | 333 |
| 1940-1950 | 556 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,095 |
| 1960-1970 | 967 |
| 1970-1980 | 427 |
| 1980-1990 | 201 |
| 1990-2000 | 167 |
| 2000-2010 | 104 |
| 2010-2019 | 90 |
| 2020-2029 | 71 |
Famous people named Del
- Del Shannon: Singer, Songwriter
- Del Harris: Basketball Coach
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien: Rapper, Producer
Fun facts
- Del originally grew in popularity as a nickname for longer names starting with 'Del-', such as Delbert or Delmar.
- The name enjoyed its highest popularity in the United States during the 1930s through the 1950s.