Daly is an Irish surname and given name that is derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Dálaigh', which means 'descendant of Dálach'. The name Dálach itself comes from the Old Celtic word 'dalech' meaning 'bold, fearless'. Throughout history, Daly has been associated with various professions such as politics, literature, and sports. Notable individuals with the surname Daly include Australian politician Patrick Daly and American poet and critic Paul Dudley White, while Daly as a given name is popular in Ireland and among Irish communities around the world.
The name Daly experienced a significant peak in popularity between 1992 and 2004, with consistently high numbers of births each year during this period. However, the frequency of the name has been decreasing since then, with fewer than 10 births recorded annually from 2005 onwards. Overall, there have been a total of 301 births named Daly between 1988 and 2023.