Gary vs Dale

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Gary

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'"}

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'"}

Gary Rank #1,133

Dale Rank #1,309

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

Is Gary or Dale more popular?

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

What do Gary and Dale mean?

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

Are Gary and Dale boy or girl names?

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