Delaney Name Meaning

The name Delaney is a girl’s name of Irish origin, meaning “descendant of the challenger” or “offspring of the rival.”

History of the Name Delaney

The name Delaney is of Irish origin, specifically from the Gaelic “O’Dubhshlaine,” which translates to “descendant of Dubhshlaine” or “offspring of the dark challenger.” The prefix “O” in Gaelic surnames indicates “descendant of,” so the name Delaney literally means “descendant of the challenger” or “offspring of the rival.” Pretty badass, if you ask me.

Origins of the Name Delaney

The name Delaney is derived from the Irish Gaelic name O’Dubhshlaine, which comes from the word “dubh” meaning dark or black and “slaine” meaning challenger or rival. The prefix “O” in Gaelic surnames indicates “descendant of,” so the name Delaney literally means “descendant of the challenger” or “offspring of the rival.”

In Ireland, the name Delaney can be found in County Offaly, County Laois, and County Kilkenny. It’s also common in County Tipperary and County Wexford. The name can be found in Ireland as far back as the 12th century.

Popularity of the Name Delaney

According to the Social Security Administration, Delaney has been steadily increasing in popularity as a baby girl’s name in the United States. In 2020, it ranked #397 on the list of most popular baby girl names. Not too shabby for a name with such a fierce meaning!

The name Delaney has been steadily increasing in popularity as a baby girl’s name in the United States. In 2020, it ranked #397 on the list of most popular baby girl names. It’s easy to see why parents are drawn to this name, with its strong meaning and Irish heritage.

Final Thoughts on the Name Delaney

So there you have it, the history, origin, meaning, and popularity of the girl’s name Delaney. A name with a fierce meaning of “descendant of the challenger” or “offspring of the rival” that has been steadily increasing in popularity. And with its Irish heritage, it’s a name that not only sounds great but also has a rich cultural significance.

Infographic of Delaney name meaning, which is Delaney is an English name meaning from the alder grove.
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Delaney Name Popularity

How popular is the name Delaney? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 2,511 6 0.0004%
1978 2,724 5 0.0004%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 2,924 5 0.0003%
1982 2,890 6 0.0004%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 2,571 8 0.0005%
1986 3,026 6 0.0004%
1987 3,109 6 0.0004%
1988 2,191 17 0.0011%
1989 1,952 26 0.0016%
1990 1,046 122 0.0074%
1991 898 170 0.0104%
1992 725 246 0.0154%
1993 558 387 0.0248%
1994 509 447 0.0291%
1995 329 784 0.052%
1996 266 1,048 0.07%
1997 259 1,090 0.0737%
1998 222 1,373 0.0917%
1999 216 1,423 0.095%
2000 206 1,523 0.0997%
2001 202 1,571 0.1043%
2002 181 1,753 0.117%
2003 175 1,846 0.1213%
2004 168 1,994 0.1308%
2005 190 1,810 0.1184%
2006 192 1,807 0.1154%
2007 202 1,678 0.1064%
2008 207 1,609 0.1041%
2009 238 1,373 0.0919%
2010 207 1,466 0.1017%
2011 234 1,310 0.0919%
2012 251 1,231 0.0864%
2013 244 1,254 0.0881%
2014 260 1,211 0.0831%
2015 237 1,307 0.0898%
2016 258 1,181 0.0819%
2017 247 1,226 0.0878%
2018 240 1,291 0.094%
2019 277 1,129 0.0834%
2020 311 970 0.0762%
2021 268 1,057 0.0865%
2022 241 1,233 0.0935%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Delaney

If you like Delaney, you’ll love these other names like Delaney.

What names are variants of Delaney?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Delaney.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
DeLaina

From the alder grove

French

Delaine

From the alder grove

French

Delainey

From the alder grove

French

Delainy

From the alder grove

French

Delane

From the alder grove

French

Delanie

From the alder grove

French

Delany

From the alder grove

French

DeLayna

From the alder grove

French

Delayne

From the alder grove

French

Delena

From the alder grove

French

Delene

From the alder grove

French

What names sound like Delaney?

If you like how Delaney sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Delaney.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Delana
Deline

Noble

German

Delyne

Noble

German

Dylane

Born from waves

Welsh

What names are similar to Delaney?

Find a name that’s like Delaney, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Trelane

Irish

Lists With Delaney

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Delaney.

Siblings of Delaney

Mamas with kids named Delaney also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Carter

Cart user

English

Sawyer

Wood Cutter

English

Cohen

Priest

Hebrew

7 Comments

  1. I am a fan of Jimmy Buffet. His grandfather’s name was Delaney and he named one of his daughters Delaney. I recently purchased a British Shorthair Cat. The breeder called her Charmy, however I was not enamoured of the moniker so I changed it to Delaney. I love the name.

    Reply

  2. I love the name delaney! i also love the cute nicknames , Dee ,Deedee , Lainey and Della are so cute!

    Reply

  3. I wanted this as a boys name.I went to school with a boy Delaney in the 80s. It’s definitely unisex

    Reply

  4. its just a brilliant surname!

    Reply

  5. Delaney is actually an irish name. It means child of dark defiance. So until now, I think that I am deeply linked to Harry Potter and the world of wizardry. Actually, when i was born i am very cheerful and extraordinary. So i think every Delaney are like that rite? And i am also actually quite friendly to make friends with.??

    Reply

  6. Found the Name Delaney online when I looked up Irish names that start with a D.
    Just fell in love with the name and wanted a D name cause my boyfriends name starts with a D.

    Reply

  7. Strong yet feminine surname for first name

    Reply

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