Daly, of Irish origin, is an uncommon given name derived from the ancient Gaelic surname Ó Dálaigh, which means 'descendant of Dalach'. Dalach itself means 'bold' or 'valiant', reflecting a strong and fearless nature. The name gained prominence through the O'Daly family, who were once hereditary poets to the High Kings of Ireland. It is often associated with art and literature due to this historical connection.
The name Daly experienced varying popularity over time, with peaks in the late 90s and mid-2000s, and a consistent resurgence since 2010, totaling 48 births from 1993 to 2022.