Declining since 2000, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Delfino since 1913
Babies named Delfino per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1999, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Delfino's real moment was 1929.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 93 |
| 1920s | 212 |
| 1930s | 200 |
| 1940s | 221 |
| 1950s | 217 |
| 1960s | 199 |
| 1970s | 211 |
| 1980s | 227 |
| 1990s | 305 |
| 2000s | 262 |
| 2010s | 151 |
| 2020s | 62 |
Meaning & origin
Delfino is a rare Italian and Spanish name meaning 'little dolphin', a diminutive of the word for dolphin. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1913, and its peak popularity came in 1929, when it was given to a modest number of boys. Since 2000, usage has been falling, and by 2025 it ranked 9,714th, with only about 1 in every 244,011 newborns receiving the name. The name has never been concentrated in any particular state, reflecting its scattered, infrequent use. Delfino carries a distinctly Mediterranean charm, evoking the sea and a playful, intelligent creature. It remains a distinctive alternative for families looking for a name with Italian or Spanish heritage that is far from trendy.
Delfino is a diminutive or affectionate form of the Spanish and Italian word for dolphin, derived from Latin 'delphinus' and Greek 'delphis'. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, the dolphin was a symbol of swiftness, intelligence, and protection, and the name was sometimes given in hopes that the child would embody these qualities. It has also been used as a surname, notably by the Italian painter Delfino Delfino.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Del, Fino, Delfi
Sibling names for Delfino
Names that share Delfino's style, for a brother or sister.
