Darek: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#3,970

among boys · ↓254 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Darek · -10% vs 2024

How common

1 in 63,262

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1973

53 babies

All-time total

1,561

#3,839 all-time among boys

First recorded

1957

in Social Security records

Darek popularity over time

1,561 babies have been named Darek since 1957, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	6	1	–	#3,648
1960s	107	11	+1683%	#1,719
1970s	292	29	+173%	#1,127
1980s	325	33	+11%	#1,550
1990s	311	31	-4%	#1,837
2000s	196	20	-37%	#3,093
2010s	154	15	-21%	#3,903
2020s (to 2025)	170	28	+84%	#2,704

Where Darek is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	32	0.02	outside top 500
2027	37	0.02	outside top 500
2028	42	0.02	outside top 500
2029	47	0.03	outside top 500
2030	51	0.03	outside top 500

The story of Darek

Darek is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,970 in 2025 with 27 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1957, 1,561 American babies have been named Darek. Its peak came in 1973, when 53 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Darek stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Darek?

The median living Darek is about 34 years old; half are between 18 and 45. An estimated 1,500 people named Darek are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Darek year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	27	#3,970
2024	30	#3,716
2023	48	#2,704
2022	36	#3,291
2021	18	#5,164
2020	11	#7,136
2019	8	#9,074
2018	14	#6,109
2017	17	#5,341
2016	11	#7,255
2015	27	#3,903
2014	10	#7,676
2013	13	#6,325
2012	22	#4,422
2011	12	#6,675
2010	20	#4,712
2009	17	#5,377
2008	16	#5,544
2007	21	#4,532
2006	20	#4,549
2005	26	#3,638
2004	13	#5,885
2003	19	#4,311
2002	18	#4,354
2001	18	#4,334
2000	28	#3,093
1995	30	#2,520
1990	35	#2,096
1985	37	#1,679
1980	39	#1,550
1975	20	#2,221
1970	28	#1,628
1965	12	#2,389
1960	8	#3,141
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Darek, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Darek?

The median living Darek is about 34 years old. Half of all living Dareks are between 18 and 45 years old.

How many people named Darek are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Darek are alive in the United States, based on 1,561 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Darek mean?

A male given name from the Germanic languages, a less common spelling of Derek.

How popular is the name Darek in 2025?

Darek ranked #3,970 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 27 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Darek?

1,561 babies have been named Darek in the United States since 1957, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Darek most popular?

Darek peaked in 1973, when 53 newborns received the name.

Is Darek a boy or girl name?

Darek is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Darek rising or falling?

Darek is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Will Darek become more popular?

Darek is trending upward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 51 boys named Darek in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Names like Darek

Names that sound and feel close to Darek: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Darek with similar names → More names starting with D →