Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1984

Darnelle

Gender Unisex · 40% girls Rank 2025 #12,460
Rank 2025
#12,460
among boys
Babies in 2025
5
named Darnelle
How common
1 in 341,615
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1984
28 babies
All-time total
616
#9,503 all-time among boys
First recorded
1943
in Social Security records

Darnelle popularity over time

616 babies have been named Darnelle since 1943, 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
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s 26 – 26 3 – –
1950s 26 – 26 3 0% –
1960s 75 11 86 9 +231% #4,044
1970s 51 39 90 9 +5% #3,777
1980s 55 142 197 20 +119% #2,449
1990s 16 103 119 12 -40% #3,197
2000s – 55 55 6 -54% #7,165
2010s – 7 7 1 -87% #9,904
2020s (to 2025) – 10 10 2 +138% #12,460

The story of Darnelle

Darnelle is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #12,460 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1943, 616 American babies have been named Darnelle, about 60% boys and 40% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1984, when 28 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Darnelle stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Darnelle?

The median living Darnelle is about 41 years old; half are between 32 and 52. An estimated 600 people named Darnelle are alive in the United States today.

median 41 020406080100

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

Darnelle year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – 5 #12,460
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – 5 #12,759
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – 7 #9,904
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – 6 #11,370
2007 – – 7 #9,995
2006 – – 8 #8,895
2005 – – – –
2004 – – 5 #11,739
2003 – – 7 #8,865
2002 – – 9 #7,165
2001 – – 6 #9,525
2000 – – 7 #8,392
1995 – – 16 #3,901
1990 – – 19 #3,197
1985 6 #9,583 8 #4,796
1980 5 #10,755 14 #3,135
1975 – – – –
1970 8 #5,936 – –
1965 8 #4,925 – –
1960 10 #4,239 – –
1955 – – – –
1950 11 #3,264 – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Darnelle?

The median living Darnelle is about 41 years old. Half of all living Darnelles are between 32 and 52 years old.

How many people named Darnelle are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Darnelle are alive in the United States, based on 616 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Darnelle in 2025?

Darnelle ranked #12,460 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Darnelle?

616 babies have been named Darnelle in the United States since 1943, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Darnelle most popular?

Darnelle peaked in 1984, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Darnelle a boy or girl name?

Darnelle is used for both: about 40% of babies named Darnelle have been girls and 60% boys.

Is the name Darnelle rising or falling?

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

Names like Darnelle

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

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