UK boy's name
Daley
From an Irish surname meaning "descendent of the humble one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Daley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Daley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 21 births.
This profile covers 213 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 243 living people in the UK are called Daley. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Daley ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 21 boys were registered as Daley.
- • Daley ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #421 in 2016.
- • About 243 living people in the UK are estimated to have Daley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2013
21 births
Estimated living
243
2026
Meaning
What does Daley mean?
The name Daley has its origins in the Irish language and culture. It is believed to be a variant of the Irish name Dálaigh, which is derived from the word "dáil," meaning "assembly" or "meeting." The name is thought to have originated in the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Daley can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle composed in the 17th century. This text mentions a prominent Irish family named Ó Dálaigh, who were renowned poets and scholars in medieval Ireland.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Daley. One of the most famous was Richard J. Daley (1902-1976), who served as the mayor of Chicago from 1955 to 1976. He played a significant role in shaping the city's political landscape and was known for his efforts to revitalize Chicago's infrastructure.
Another prominent figure with the name Daley was William Joseph Daley (1856-1933), a Canadian politician who served as the sixth Premier of the Province of Ontario from 1919 to 1923. He was instrumental in the development of Ontario's hydro-electric power system and the establishment of the province's first labor laws.
In the realm of sports, Brian Daley (1952-1998) was an American professional baseball player who spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers. He was a member of the Tigers' World Series championship team in 1984.
Moving to the world of literature, Robert Daley (1929-2016) was an American author and journalist best known for his crime novels set in New York City. His works, including "Prince of the City" and "The Innocent," provided insightful explorations of urban life and the complex dynamics of law enforcement.
Finally, in the field of aviation, John S. Daley (1891-1981) was an American pilot and aviation pioneer. He was one of the first pilots hired by the United States Postal Service to fly airmail routes and played a crucial role in the early development of commercial aviation in the United States.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Daley throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse accomplishments of those who have borne this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Daley over time
The chart below shows babies named Daley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Daley, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Daley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Daley was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3944 | 17 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2054 | 127 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2565 | 56 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2348 | 13 | 3 |
Geography
Where Daley is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Daley. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Daley ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #421 in 2016.
Across the UK
Daley in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#733 in 2017
7 years of NRS records, 26 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#421 in 2016
2 years of NISRA records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Daley
-
Daley Williams
rugby league player
English rugby league footballer
1986-
Related
Names similar to Daley
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Daley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Daley in the UK right now?
In 2024, Daley was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Daley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 21 babies registered as Daley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Daley?
From an Irish surname meaning "descendent of the humble one".
How many people are called Daley in the UK?
A total of 213 babies have been registered as Daley across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 26 more in Scotland and 6 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Daley most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Daley ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #421 in 2016. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.