Valley or small valley
Dalen is likely a modern variation of the English surname Dale or the Scandinavian name Dahl, both of which refer to someone living in a valley. It may also be interpreted as a combination of the name Dale with the popular '-en' suffix. In some contexts, it is viewed as a variation of the Gaelic name Daylan.
Less common today
Dalen isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #1,321 in 2001.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
NBA basketball player
Sports broadcaster and former basketball player
South African actor and television presenter
