Dalaigh: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Dalaigh is an Irish boy's name meaning “counsellor.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Counsellor
- Gender
- Boy
- English forms
- Daley, Daly
How do you pronounce Dalaigh?
Dalaigh is pronounced DAWL-ee. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said DALE-ee.
What does Dalaigh mean?
Dálaigh comes from the surname Ó Dálaigh, “descendant of Dálach.” Dálach is connected with dáil, “assembly, meeting,” and is explained as “one who frequents assemblies,” hence a counselor. The same word gives Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament. In English the surname became O’Daly, Daly or Daley, and as a first name Dálaigh is rare.
The Ó Dálaigh family was one of the great bardic families of Ireland. Cú Connacht Ó Dálaigh, who died at Clonard in 1139, was the ancestor of its poets, and Donnchadh Mór Ó Dálaigh (died 1244) was among the most celebrated medieval Irish poets. In modern times Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh served as the fifth President of Ireland, from 1974 to 1976.
Sources: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923), Wikipedia, Ó Dónaill's Irish dictionary (teanglann.ie).
How popular is Dalaigh in Ireland?
Dalaigh is rare in Ireland. Since 1964, fewer than three baby boys a year have been registered with the name, so it doesn't appear in the Central Statistics Office's baby name tables.
Source: Central Statistics Office, Irish Babies’ Names 2025 and its boys' names table.
Dalaigh in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Dalaigh, letter by letter.
- DDair, oak
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
- AAilm, pine
- IIodhadh, yew
- GGort, ivy
- HUath, hawthorn
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Dalaigh
Questions about Dalaigh
- How do you pronounce Dalaigh?
- Dalaigh is pronounced DAWL-ee. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Dalaigh mean?
- Dalaigh means “counsellor.”
- Is Dalaigh a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Dalaigh is a boy's name.
- What is Dalaigh in English?
- The English forms of Dalaigh are Daley and Daly.
- What is Daley in Irish?
- Daley in Irish is Dalaigh, pronounced DAWL-ee. Dalaigh means “counsellor.”
- What is Daly in Irish?
- Daly in Irish is Dalaigh, pronounced DAWL-ee. Dalaigh means “counsellor.”
- Is Dalaigh a rare name?
- Yes. Fewer than three boys a year are registered as Dalaigh in Ireland, too few to appear in the Central Statistics Office's tables.