Rising since 1990, #1,388 for girls today.
Popularity of Delainey since 1990
Babies named Delainey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 187 |
| 2000s | 628 |
| 2010s | 662 |
| 2020s | 615 |
Meaning & origin
Delainey is a modern, feminine respelling of the Irish surname Delaney, which originated as a given name in the early 1990s. First recorded in 1990, it has been steadily rising in popularity, with its peak year in 2024. In 2025, the name ranks 1388, with a 1-in-10,237 frequency among newborn girls. Delainey is most popular in Maryland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, reflecting a regional preference for creative surname-names. The name's trajectory suggests continued growth, aligning with the broader 2020s trend of soft, melodious 'ey' endings for girls.
Delainey is a contemporary respelling of the Irish surname Delaney, which derives from the Gaelic Ó Dubhshláine, meaning 'descendant of Dubhshláine'. The Gaelic elements dubh ('black' or 'dark') and slán ('challenge' or 'defiance') combine to suggest 'dark challenger'. While Delaney has been used as a given name in the United States since the late 20th century, Delainey emerged in the 1990s as a feminized variant, following the trend of names ending in '-ey' or '-ie' for girls.
Where Delainey is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lainey, Dela, Dee
Sibling names for Delainey
Names that share Delainey's style, for a brother or sister.
