Darby
Girl name · #2572 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Darby? In official American birth records, Darby has been tracked continuously since 1936, giving it 89 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 68 baby girls were named Darby, placing it at #2572 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1861, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 26,471 girls born in 2025 was named Darby.
The 89-year story
Darby first appears in the Social Security records in 1936, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 491 girls were named Darby — good for #499 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Darby per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darby against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darby in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Darby is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Darby will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darby is most common
State-level data for Darby is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Darby
Statistically, parents drawn to Darby tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Karly, Keely, Colby, Dasha, and Carley.
KarlyKeelyColbyDashaCarleyDejaDayshaKolby
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darby | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 68 | #2564 |
| 2024 | 51 | #3119 |
| 2023 | 74 | #2415 |
| 2022 | 68 | #2579 |
| 2021 | 95 | #2024 |
| 2020 | 82 | #2196 |
| 2019 | 89 | #2109 |
| 2018 | 89 | #2130 |
| 2017 | 123 | #1721 |
| 2016 | 120 | #1735 |
| 2015 | 110 | #1861 |
| 2014 | 106 | #1892 |
| 2013 | 119 | #1737 |
| 2012 | 118 | #1744 |
| 2011 | 136 | #1592 |
| 2010 | 152 | #1481 |
| 2009 | 136 | #1639 |
| 2008 | 161 | #1461 |
| 2007 | 189 | #1292 |
| 2006 | 156 | #1440 |
| 2005 | 197 | #1168 |
| 2004 | 188 | #1191 |
| 2003 | 215 | #1054 |
| 2002 | 235 | #951 |
| 2001 | 217 | #989 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Darby?
In official American birth records, the name Darby first appeared in 1936 (over 89 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 89 years.
Is Darby a popular girl name?
Darby ranked #2572 among girls in 2025 with 68 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1861.
When was the name Darby most popular?
Darby peaked in 1995, when 491 American girls received the name (ranked #499 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darby?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 26,471 newborn American girls was named Darby. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.