Dale vs Gary

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Dale

Boy #1,309 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"valley dweller, from the valley"

Origin: Old English/Old Norse

English American Scandinavian

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Dale' rhymes with 'fail'"}

Boy #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Gary' can be twisted to 'scary'"}

Dale Rank #1,309

Gary Rank #1,133

Gary is more popular, ranked #1133 vs #1309 for Dale.

Is Dale or Gary more popular?

Gary is more popular, ranked #1133 compared to Dale at #1309 in the United States.

What do Dale and Gary mean?

Dale means "valley dweller, from the valley" (Old English/Old Norse origin). Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin).

Are Dale and Gary boy or girl names?

Dale is primarily a boy name. Gary is primarily a boy name.