UK boy's name
Dalian
A name derived from the city Dalian, meaning "calm waves" in Chinese.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1997. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dalian is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dalian popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1997 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2859, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1996 to 1997. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Dalian. 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 1998 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dalian ranked #2859 for boys in England and Wales in 1997, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 boys were registered as Dalian.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dalian as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2859
1997
Births in 1997
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Dalian mean?
The name Dalian is of Chinese origin, derived from the Mandarin Chinese language. It is believed to have originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and is a combination of two Chinese characters: "da" meaning "great" and "lian" meaning "building" or "construction."
The name Dalian was initially associated with the city of Dalian, a major port city in the Liaoning province of northeastern China. The city was formerly known as Lüshun or Port Arthur. It is believed that the name Dalian was given to the city during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) to reflect its strategic importance as a major port and naval base.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Dalian can be found in the historical records of the Qing Dynasty. It was mentioned in reference to the city and its significance as a naval and trading hub. However, the name did not gain widespread popularity as a personal name until the 20th century.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Dalian was Dalian Tao (1904-1988), a Chinese archaeologist and historian. He was renowned for his work in the excavation and preservation of ancient Chinese artifacts and cultural sites.
Another prominent individual with the name Dalian was Dalian Xiong (1920-2013), a Chinese military leader and politician. He served as the Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1983 to 1988 and played a significant role in the country's economic reforms during that period.
In the realm of literature, Dalian Xiao (1938-2015) was a renowned Chinese writer and poet. He was known for his innovative style and his contributions to modern Chinese literature.
Dalian Yin (1942-2008) was a Chinese actor and filmmaker who gained recognition for his roles in numerous Chinese films and television series. He was also a respected director and screenwriter.
Dalian Chen (born 1954) is a Chinese-American businessman and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Huawei Technologies, one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers.
While the name Dalian has its roots in Chinese culture and history, it has gained global recognition and popularity in recent decades, particularly among individuals of Chinese descent living abroad.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dalian over time
The chart below shows babies named Dalian registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 1997. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dalian, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 1997, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dalian by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dalian 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #2608 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Dalian
- 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
Dalian: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dalian in the UK right now?
In 1997, Dalian was ranked #2859 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dalian most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Dalian in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dalian?
A name derived from the city Dalian, meaning "calm waves" in Chinese.
How many people are called Dalian in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Dalian across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.