At a glance
- U.S. rank 2025
- #1,688 of boy names (outside the top 1,000)
- Babies in 2025
- 97 (<0.01% of boys)
- Trend
- Slipping #1,255 in 2020 to #1,688 in 2025
- Peak
- #86 in 1967–1968
- First recorded
- 1886
Meaning of Darrell
Darrell is an adventurous travel story wrapped up in six letters: it began as the Norman-French surname d’Airelle—“the fellow from Airelle,” a berry-covered hamlet near Lille—and hitchhiked across the English Channel before salsa-stepping into American first-name status in the roaring 1920s, peaking mid-century when baby boomer parents couldn’t resist its smooth, two-step rhythm (think 1950s jukeboxes spinning at full tilt). Pronounced DAR-ul, the name sounds like a trumpet flourish—crisp, confident, ready for the spotlight—so it’s no surprise you’ll spot it on Hall-of-Fame cleats (NFL legend Darrell Green), comedy stages (SNL’s Darrell Hammond) and even NASCAR tracks (Darrell Waltrip). Though its literal meaning is simply “from Airelle,” many parents hear an echo of “darling” or the Spanish cariño, turning Darrell into a quiet love note. Today it coasts along in the 800s on the U.S. charts, a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered—perfect for families who want a name with French pedigree, golden-age swagger, and just enough Latin spice to make Abuela break into a happy cha-cha when she first whispers it to the baby.
How to pronounce Darrell
American English
- Pronounced DARE-ul /dɑrəl/
British English
- Pronounced DAR-ul /dɑrəl/
Popularity of Darrell in the U.S.
Darrell was the #1,688 boy name in the U.S. in 2025, with 97 babies. It peaked at #86 in 1967–1968. It first appears in the records in 1886.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1886–2025 136 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 97 | 1,688 | ▼ 229 |
| 2024 | 124 | 1,459 | ▲ 117 |
| 2023 | 110 | 1,576 | ▼ 143 |
| 2022 | 127 | 1,433 | ▼ 26 |
| 2021 | 130 | 1,407 | ▼ 152 |
| 2020 | 147 | 1,255 | ▼ 111 |
| 2019 | 170 | 1,144 | ▼ 77 |
| 2018 | 189 | 1,067 | ▼ 172 |
| 2017 | 240 | 895 | ▲ 16 |
| 2016 | 236 | 911 | ▲ 23 |
| 2015 | 226 | 934 | ▼ 78 |
| 2014 | 259 | 856 | ▼ 69 |
| 2013 | 286 | 787 | ▼ 1 |
| 2012 | 288 | 786 | ▼ 96 |
| 2011 | 338 | 690 | ▲ 56 |
| 2010 | 304 | 746 | ▼ 10 |
| 2009 | 317 | 736 | ▼ 102 |
| 2008 | 388 | 634 | ▼ 30 |
| 2007 | 416 | 604 | ▼ 13 |
| 2006 | 415 | 591 | ▼ 16 |
| 2005 | 405 | 575 | ▼ 16 |
| 2004 | 410 | 559 | ▲ 1 |
| 2003 | 400 | 560 | ▼ 13 |
| 2002 | 405 | 547 | ▼ 43 |
| 2001 | 453 | 504 | ▼ 34 |
| 2000 | 499 | 470 | ▼ 42 |
| 1999 | 545 | 428 | ▲ 4 |
| 1998 | 533 | 432 | ▼ 17 |
| 1997 | 556 | 415 | ▼ 32 |
| 1996 | 609 | 383 | ▼ 5 |
| 1995 | 628 | 378 | ▼ 46 |
| 1994 | 746 | 332 | ▼ 22 |
| 1993 | 876 | 310 | ▼ 16 |
| 1992 | 915 | 294 | ▼ 28 |
| 1991 | 1,020 | 266 | ▼ 20 |
| 1990 | 1,128 | 246 | ▼ 21 |
| 1989 | 1,206 | 225 | ▼ 9 |
| 1988 | 1,214 | 216 | ▼ 11 |
| 1987 | 1,232 | 205 | ▼ 9 |
| 1986 | 1,308 | 196 | ▼ 6 |
| 1985 | 1,324 | 190 | ▼ 3 |
| 1984 | 1,335 | 187 | ▲ 1 |
| 1983 | 1,332 | 188 | ▼ 6 |
| 1982 | 1,389 | 182 | ▲ 2 |
| 1981 | 1,361 | 184 | ▼ 16 |
| 1980 | 1,461 | 168 | ▼ 6 |
| 1979 | 1,527 | 162 | ▲ 3 |
| 1978 | 1,466 | 165 | ▼ 15 |
| 1977 | 1,656 | 150 | – |
| 1976 | 1,659 | 150 | ▼ 3 |
| 1975 | 1,672 | 147 | ▼ 10 |
| 1974 | 1,840 | 137 | ▼ 6 |
| 1973 | 1,977 | 131 | ▼ 10 |
| 1972 | 2,313 | 121 | ▼ 3 |
| 1971 | 2,814 | 118 | ▼ 16 |
| 1970 | 3,148 | 102 | ▼ 9 |
| 1969 | 3,249 | 93 | ▼ 7 |
| 1968 | 3,446 | 86 | – |
| 1967 | 3,652 | 86 | ▲ 9 |
| 1966 | 3,497 | 95 | ▼ 4 |
| 1965 | 3,888 | 91 | ▲ 5 |
| 1964 | 3,968 | 96 | ▼ 1 |
| 1963 | 4,097 | 95 | ▲ 7 |
| 1962 | 3,877 | 102 | ▼ 1 |
| 1961 | 4,203 | 101 | ▲ 3 |
| 1960 | 4,148 | 104 | ▼ 14 |
| 1959 | 4,647 | 90 | – |
| 1958 | 4,771 | 90 | – |
| 1957 | 4,570 | 90 | ▼ 2 |
| 1956 | 4,468 | 88 | ▲ 3 |
| 1955 | 3,902 | 91 | ▲ 4 |
| 1954 | 3,643 | 95 | ▲ 8 |
| 1953 | 3,149 | 103 | ▲ 6 |
| 1952 | 2,868 | 109 | – |
| 1951 | 2,746 | 109 | ▲ 7 |
| 1950 | 2,493 | 116 | ▲ 1 |
| 1949 | 2,517 | 117 | ▲ 4 |
| 1948 | 2,336 | 121 | ▲ 4 |
| 1947 | 2,285 | 125 | ▲ 6 |
| 1946 | 1,905 | 131 | ▲ 10 |
| 1945 | 1,522 | 141 | ▼ 8 |
| 1944 | 1,580 | 133 | ▲ 7 |
| 1943 | 1,529 | 140 | ▼ 5 |
| 1942 | 1,591 | 135 | ▼ 5 |
| 1941 | 1,530 | 130 | ▲ 1 |
| 1940 | 1,430 | 131 | ▼ 1 |
| 1939 | 1,340 | 130 | ▼ 2 |
| 1938 | 1,356 | 128 | ▲ 2 |
| 1937 | 1,260 | 130 | ▲ 3 |
| 1936 | 1,208 | 133 | ▲ 3 |
| 1935 | 1,153 | 136 | ▲ 4 |
| 1934 | 1,129 | 140 | ▲ 8 |
| 1933 | 1,026 | 148 | ▲ 6 |
| 1932 | 992 | 154 | ▲ 13 |
| 1931 | 834 | 167 | ▲ 6 |
| 1930 | 828 | 173 | ▲ 21 |
| 1929 | 698 | 194 | ▲ 16 |
| 1928 | 647 | 210 | ▲ 13 |
| 1927 | 603 | 223 | ▲ 8 |
| 1926 | 578 | 231 | ▲ 17 |
| 1925 | 523 | 248 | ▲ 7 |
| 1924 | 509 | 255 | ▲ 7 |
| 1923 | 462 | 262 | ▲ 28 |
| 1922 | 379 | 290 | ▲ 3 |
| 1921 | 370 | 293 | ▲ 5 |
| 1920 | 359 | 298 | ▲ 34 |
| 1919 | 291 | 332 | ▲ 41 |
| 1918 | 250 | 373 | ▼ 13 |
| 1917 | 241 | 360 | ▲ 5 |
| 1916 | 222 | 365 | ▼ 14 |
| 1915 | 231 | 351 | ▲ 70 |
| 1914 | 130 | 421 | ▼ 25 |
| 1913 | 116 | 396 | ▲ 1 |
| 1912 | 94 | 397 | ▲ 74 |
| 1911 | 38 | 471 | ▲ 53 |
| 1910 | 29 | 524 | ▲ 190 |
| 1909 | 15 | 714 | ▼ 101 |
| 1908 | 18 | 613 | ▼ 127 |
| 1907 | 23 | 486 | ▲ 154 |
| 1906 | 14 | 640 | ▲ 101 |
| 1905 | 11 | 741 | ▲ 69 |
| 1904 | 9 | 810 | ▲ 36 |
| 1903 | 8 | 846 | ▼ 159 |
| 1902 | 11 | 687 | ▲ 171 |
| 1901 | 7 | 858 | ▲ 44 |
| 1900 | 9 | 902 | ▼ 116 |
| 1899 | 8 | 786 | ▼ 213 |
| 1898 | 14 | 573 | ▲ 108 |
| 1897 | 10 | 681 | ▲ 301 |
| 1896 | 6 | 982 | ▲ 97 |
| 1895 | 5 | 1,079 | ▼ 5 |
| 1894 | 5 | 1,074 | ▼ 39 |
| 1893 | 5 | 1,035 | back (not recorded in 1892) |
| 1891 | 6 | 841 | ▲ 153 |
| 1890 | 5 | 994 | back (not recorded in 1887–1889) |
| 1886 | 5 | 959 | new |
Darrell by state
Darrell ranks #702 in Maryland (2025).
Rank by state 8 states
| State | Rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 702 | 6 |
| Louisiana | 775 | 5 |
| Massachusetts | 789 | 5 |
| Virginia | 971 | 6 |
| Ohio | 1,015 | 7 |
| North Carolina | 1,277 | 5 |
| Florida | 1,625 | 6 |
| Texas | 2,080 | 7 |
Notable people named Darrell
- Darrell Waltrip is an American former NASCAR driver and three-time Cup Series champion who became a broadcaster, analyst and author.
- Darrell Issa is an American businessman and Republican politician who represents California in the United States House of Representatives.
- Darrell Evans is a former American baseball player and two-time All-Star who won the 1984 World Series with the Detroit Tigers.
- Darrell Green is a Hall of Fame cornerback, celebrated as one of the fastest players in NFL history, who spent 20 seasons with Washington and won two Super Bowls.
- Darrell Hammond is an American comedian and impressionist known for his longtime role on Saturday Night Live as a cast member and announcer.
More people named Darrell 10 more
- Darrell Keith Rich was an American serial killer and rapist who was executed in 2000 for murders committed in California.
- Darrell Young is a former American BMX racer who competed during the 1980s and early 1990s.
- Darrell K Royal was an American college football coach who led the Texas Longhorns to three national championships.
- Darrell Williams is an American former professional basketball player.
- Darrell Armstrong is a former NBA player and coach who won two major awards in 1999 and an NBA championship as a Mavericks assistant coach in 2011.
- Darrell Jackson is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.
- Darrell Arthur is a former American professional basketball player who won a national championship with the Kansas Jayhawks in 2008.
- Darrell Henderson Jr. is an American football running back who played for Memphis before being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
- Darrell Stuckey Jr. is a former NFL safety who played for the San Diego Chargers after starring at Kansas.
- Darrell G. Bolz is a Republican politician who served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2001 to 2014.