Darrell
Boy name · #1690 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Darrell? In official American birth records, Darrell has been tracked continuously since 1886, giving it 139 years of documented American history.
Darrell ranks #1690 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 97 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #934, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,557 boys born in 2025 was named Darrell.
Babies named Darrell per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 139-year story
Darrell first appears in the Social Security records in 1886, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1958, when 4,771 boys were named Darrell — good for #90 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darrell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darrell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Darrell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Darrell will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darrell is most common
State-level data for Darrell 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 Darrell
Statistically, parents drawn to Darrell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Wendell, Randall, Daryl, Darryl, and Dwayne.
WendellRandallDarylDarrylDwayneMichealDonnieLowell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darrell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 97 | #1688 |
| 2024 | 124 | #1459 |
| 2023 | 110 | #1576 |
| 2022 | 127 | #1433 |
| 2021 | 130 | #1407 |
| 2020 | 147 | #1255 |
| 2019 | 170 | #1144 |
| 2018 | 189 | #1067 |
| 2017 | 240 | #895 |
| 2016 | 236 | #911 |
| 2015 | 226 | #934 |
| 2014 | 259 | #856 |
| 2013 | 286 | #787 |
| 2012 | 288 | #786 |
| 2011 | 338 | #690 |
| 2010 | 304 | #746 |
| 2009 | 317 | #736 |
| 2008 | 388 | #634 |
| 2007 | 416 | #604 |
| 2006 | 415 | #591 |
| 2005 | 405 | #575 |
| 2004 | 410 | #559 |
| 2003 | 400 | #560 |
| 2002 | 405 | #547 |
| 2001 | 453 | #504 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Darrell?
In official American birth records, the name Darrell first appeared in 1886 (over 139 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Darrell a popular boy name?
Darrell ranked #1690 among boys in 2025 with 97 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #934.
When was the name Darrell most popular?
Darrell peaked in 1958, when 4,771 American boys received the name (ranked #90 that year). Since 1958 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darrell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,557 newborn American boys was named Darrell. 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.