Fun Facts About the Name Darrell
- A favorite of earlier generations: Darrell appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 13 years. Its last run lasted 7 consecutive years, from 1963 through 1969.
- More than 160 thousand babies named Darrell: U.S. records list 160,952 babies given the name Darrell from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,186 girls received the name Darrell - about 1 girl for every 135 boys.
What Does the Name Darrell Mean?
Darrell is an English family name and given name that comes from the Norman French surname d'Airel, meaning "from Airel." Airel is a village in the Manche department of Normandy, France, and the surname originally identified someone who came from that place. The deeper origin of the place name itself is not settled; it is usually thought to rest on a Gallo-Roman personal name, but the exact base and ending are not securely known.
A different explanation appears in some older name books, which trace Darrell to the Old English dēorling, meaning "darling" or "favorite." The surname's early recorded forms are Norman French in shape rather than English, so this derivation is generally regarded as unlikely. The literal sense of the name is local - a person's place of origin - not a description of character.
Darrell Name History & Origins
The surname arrived in England with the Norman Conquest, and families bearing it are recorded there in the medieval period, with branches in Wiltshire, Sussex, and Kent; the Darrells of Littlecote in Wiltshire are among the better known. Spellings in medieval records include Darell, Darel, and Darrel. The Norman place it points to, Airel, lies in the Cotentin region, and the Old French form of the surname is usually given as d'Airel.
In time Darrell was also taken up as a masculine given name, drawn directly from the surname. The spellings Darryl and Daryl are later variants of the same surname-derived name rather than older medieval forms. The one-L spelling Darrel also occurs.
How Popular is the Name Darrell?
Darrell recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1958. Darrell ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1954 through 1959, then returned in 1963 and remained through 1969.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | #17,439 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,266 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #14,277 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #14,044 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #13,949 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #10,870 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #8,656 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #5,614 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #5,109 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #6,917 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #5,241 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #6,563 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #5,990 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #3,582 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1982 | #7,015 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #6,434 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #5,612 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #2,944 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1978 | #4,299 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #4,711 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #4,677 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #3,072 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1974 | #3,893 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #2,927 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #3,301 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,609 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1970 | #2,206 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1969 | #2,305 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1968 | #2,257 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1967 | #2,284 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1966 | #2,364 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1965 | #2,757 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #2,491 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1963 | #2,263 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #2,083 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1961 | #2,626 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | #3,014 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #2,776 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #2,221 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1957 | #2,290 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1956 | #2,160 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1955 | #2,748 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #2,194 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #2,960 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,945 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1951 | #2,835 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,140 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #2,082 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1948 | #1,826 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1947 | #2,472 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #2,406 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #2,256 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #2,313 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #2,092 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1942 | #2,697 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #2,286 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #2,048 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1939 | #2,224 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1938 | #2,980 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #1,934 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1936 | #2,910 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #2,610 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #3,527 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #3,173 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1932 | #2,529 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #2,812 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #4,141 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #2,463 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,991 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1927 | #3,938 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #4,995 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #5,138 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #4,092 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #4,504 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #5,291 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1916 | #3,628 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,691 | 97 | 0.0057% |
| 2024 | #1,465 | 123 | 0.0072% |
| 2023 | #1,577 | 110 | 0.0064% |
| 2022 | #1,433 | 127 | 0.0073% |
| 2021 | #1,410 | 130 | 0.0074% |
| 2020 | #1,255 | 147 | 0.0085% |
| 2019 | #1,152 | 169 | 0.0094% |
| 2018 | #1,067 | 189 | 0.0104% |
| 2017 | #895 | 240 | 0.0130% |
| 2016 | #916 | 235 | 0.0124% |
| 2015 | #935 | 226 | 0.0118% |
| 2014 | #856 | 259 | 0.0135% |
| 2013 | #789 | 286 | 0.0151% |
| 2012 | #785 | 288 | 0.0152% |
| 2011 | #690 | 338 | 0.0178% |
| 2010 | #747 | 304 | 0.0158% |
| 2009 | #736 | 317 | 0.0160% |
| 2008 | #634 | 388 | 0.0190% |
| 2007 | #605 | 416 | 0.0200% |
| 2006 | #592 | 415 | 0.0202% |
| 2005 | #575 | 405 | 0.0203% |
| 2004 | #559 | 410 | 0.0207% |
| 2003 | #561 | 400 | 0.0203% |
| 2002 | #547 | 405 | 0.0209% |
| 2001 | #505 | 453 | 0.0233% |
| 2000 | #470 | 499 | 0.0254% |
| 1999 | #429 | 545 | 0.0284% |
| 1998 | #432 | 533 | 0.0279% |
| 1997 | #415 | 556 | 0.0295% |
| 1996 | #383 | 609 | 0.0322% |
| 1995 | #378 | 628 | 0.0330% |
| 1994 | #332 | 746 | 0.0386% |
| 1993 | #310 | 876 | 0.0447% |
| 1992 | #294 | 915 | 0.0458% |
| 1991 | #266 | 1,020 | 0.0505% |
| 1990 | #246 | 1,128 | 0.0549% |
| 1989 | #225 | 1,207 | 0.0603% |
| 1988 | #216 | 1,213 | 0.0634% |
| 1987 | #205 | 1,232 | 0.0660% |
| 1986 | #196 | 1,308 | 0.0710% |
| 1985 | #190 | 1,324 | 0.0716% |
| 1984 | #187 | 1,335 | 0.0740% |
| 1983 | #188 | 1,332 | 0.0743% |
| 1982 | #182 | 1,391 | 0.0767% |
| 1981 | #184 | 1,361 | 0.0760% |
| 1980 | #167 | 1,462 | 0.0819% |
| 1979 | #162 | 1,528 | 0.0888% |
| 1978 | #165 | 1,466 | 0.0893% |
| 1977 | #150 | 1,655 | 0.1007% |
| 1976 | #150 | 1,660 | 0.1058% |
| 1975 | #147 | 1,672 | 0.1071% |
| 1974 | #137 | 1,840 | 0.1170% |
| 1973 | #131 | 1,978 | 0.1269% |
| 1972 | #122 | 2,311 | 0.1425% |
| 1971 | #118 | 2,814 | 0.1591% |
| 1970 | #102 | 3,148 | 0.1694% |
| 1969 | #93 | 3,248 | 0.1816% |
| 1968 | #86 | 3,446 | 0.1983% |
| 1967 | #86 | 3,652 | 0.2094% |
| 1966 | #95 | 3,496 | 0.1960% |
| 1965 | #91 | 3,890 | 0.2091% |
| 1964 | #96 | 3,969 | 0.1992% |
| 1963 | #95 | 4,094 | 0.2016% |
| 1962 | #102 | 3,878 | 0.1875% |
| 1961 | #101 | 4,202 | 0.1978% |
| 1960 | #104 | 4,149 | 0.1946% |
| 1959 | #90 | 4,647 | 0.2177% |
| 1958 | #90 | 4,770 | 0.2248% |
| 1957 | #90 | 4,571 | 0.2119% |
| 1956 | #88 | 4,468 | 0.2112% |
| 1955 | #91 | 3,902 | 0.1894% |
| 1954 | #95 | 3,644 | 0.1787% |
| 1953 | #103 | 3,149 | 0.1597% |
| 1952 | #109 | 2,868 | 0.1476% |
| 1951 | #109 | 2,745 | 0.1458% |
| 1950 | #116 | 2,494 | 0.1393% |
| 1949 | #117 | 2,518 | 0.1419% |
| 1948 | #121 | 2,336 | 0.1331% |
| 1947 | #125 | 2,285 | 0.1249% |
| 1946 | #131 | 1,905 | 0.1173% |
| 1945 | #141 | 1,522 | 0.1131% |
| 1944 | #133 | 1,580 | 0.1159% |
| 1943 | #140 | 1,529 | 0.1071% |
| 1942 | #135 | 1,591 | 0.1152% |
| 1941 | #130 | 1,530 | 0.1246% |
| 1940 | #131 | 1,430 | 0.1234% |
| 1939 | #130 | 1,340 | 0.1211% |
| 1938 | #128 | 1,356 | 0.1223% |
| 1937 | #130 | 1,260 | 0.1181% |
| 1936 | #133 | 1,208 | 0.1165% |
| 1935 | #136 | 1,152 | 0.1106% |
| 1934 | #140 | 1,129 | 0.1093% |
| 1933 | #148 | 1,026 | 0.1035% |
| 1932 | #154 | 992 | 0.0950% |
| 1931 | #167 | 834 | 0.0802% |
| 1930 | #173 | 828 | 0.0755% |
| 1929 | #194 | 698 | 0.0649% |
| 1928 | #210 | 647 | 0.0584% |
| 1927 | #223 | 603 | 0.0535% |
| 1926 | #231 | 578 | 0.0520% |
| 1925 | #248 | 523 | 0.0469% |
| 1924 | #255 | 509 | 0.0449% |
| 1923 | #262 | 462 | 0.0421% |
| 1922 | #290 | 379 | 0.0348% |
| 1921 | #293 | 370 | 0.0336% |
| 1920 | #298 | 359 | 0.0337% |
| 1919 | #332 | 291 | 0.0297% |
| 1918 | #373 | 250 | 0.0247% |
| 1917 | #360 | 241 | 0.0260% |
| 1916 | #365 | 222 | 0.0249% |
| 1915 | #352 | 231 | 0.0272% |
| 1914 | #421 | 130 | 0.0199% |
| 1913 | #397 | 116 | 0.0226% |
| 1912 | #397 | 94 | 0.0219% |
| 1911 | #471 | 38 | 0.0168% |
| 1910 | #526 | 29 | 0.0149% |
| 1909 | #726 | 15 | 0.0091% |
| 1908 | #615 | 18 | 0.0117% |
| 1907 | #488 | 23 | 0.0157% |
| 1906 | #651 | 14 | 0.0105% |
| 1905 | #753 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1904 | #822 | 9 | 0.0070% |
| 1903 | #858 | 8 | 0.0067% |
| 1902 | #698 | 11 | 0.0090% |
| 1901 | #875 | 7 | 0.0066% |
| 1900 | #919 | 9 | 0.0060% |
| 1899 | #798 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #582 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1897 | #690 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1896 | #1,008 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1895 | #1,119 | 5 | 0.0043% |
| 1894 | #1,121 | 5 | 0.0043% |
| 1893 | #1,075 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1891 | #869 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #1,038 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1886 | #1,001 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Darrell
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Darrell Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Darrell's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Darrell's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.