Etymologically ‘Dadhi Lekh’ means the hill where sage Dadhichi meditated.

[4][5] There is also another story about name that, in ancient time it was a place of Devatas, so it called "Daibalok" which later became 'Dailekh'.

Before the unification of modern Nepal, the area of the Karnali region had a united kingdom named Baise Rajya (Twenty two principalities).

The national capital Kathmandu is at distance of 647.41 kilometres (402.28 mi) from Dailekh.

[11] Ethnicity/caste: 34.8% were Chhetri, 18.6% Kami, 14.1% Thakuri, 10.9% Hill Brahmin, 9.2% Magar, 5.0% Damai/Dholi, 3.1% Sarki, 1.5% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 1.3% Gurung, 0.3% Badi, 0.3% Newar, 0.2% other Dalit, 0.2% Musalman, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Tamang and 0.1% others.