Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1960

Darrel

Meaning Spelling variant of Darrell Gender Boy Rank 2025 #5,435

Spelling variant of Darrell.

Rank 2025
#5,435
among boys · ↓153 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
17
named Darrel
How common
1 in 100,475
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1960
664 babies
All-time total
29,892
#682 all-time among boys
First recorded
1900
in Social Security records

Darrel popularity over time

29,892 babies have been named Darrel since 1900, 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
0.130.250.380.518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – 63 63 6 – #748
1910s – 612 612 61 +871% #577
1920s 6 1,898 1,904 190 +211% #358
1930s 17 3,734 3,751 375 +97% #243
1940s 16 5,275 5,291 529 +41% #251
1950s 39 6,035 6,074 607 +15% #275
1960s 30 5,499 5,529 553 -9% #302
1970s 15 2,658 2,673 267 -52% #413
1980s – 1,862 1,862 186 -30% #616
1990s – 1,136 1,136 114 -39% #769
2000s – 538 538 54 -53% #1,643
2010s – 328 328 33 -39% #2,549
2020s (to 2025) – 131 131 22 -33% #3,197

The story of Darrel

Darrel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,435 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1900, 29,892 American babies have been named Darrel. Its peak came in 1960, when 664 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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

How old are people named Darrel?

The median living Darrel is about 62 years old; half are between 50 and 72. An estimated 19 thousand people named Darrel are alive in the United States today.

median 62 020406080100

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

Darrel 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 – – 17 #5,435
2024 – – 18 #5,282
2023 – – 18 #5,295
2022 – – 20 #4,888
2021 – – 37 #3,197
2020 – – 21 #4,571
2019 – – 28 #3,818
2018 – – 29 #3,725
2017 – – 19 #4,978
2016 – – 22 #4,504
2015 – – 30 #3,603
2014 – – 48 #2,549
2013 – – 40 #2,860
2012 – – 35 #3,188
2011 – – 43 #2,763
2010 – – 34 #3,257
2009 – – 42 #2,857
2008 – – 47 #2,638
2007 – – 42 #2,828
2006 – – 57 #2,228
2005 – – 63 #1,990
2004 – – 42 #2,577
2003 – – 55 #2,060
2002 – – 49 #2,163
2001 – – 70 #1,661
2000 – – 71 #1,643
1995 – – 84 #1,276
1990 – – 173 #774
1985 – – 173 #675
1980 – – 203 #616
1975 – – 217 #547
1970 5 #8,245 392 #413
1965 – – 499 #339
1960 5 #6,559 659 #302
1955 – – 608 #292
1950 6 #4,853 530 #295
1945 – – 431 #288
1940 5 #4,499 474 #252
1935 – – 414 #266
1930 – – 265 #346
1925 – – 182 #446
1920 – – 143 #510
1915 – – 86 #624
1910 – – 8 #1,227
1905 – – 11 #752
1900 – – 7 #1,070
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Darrel?

The median living Darrel is about 62 years old. Half of all living Darrels are between 50 and 72 years old.

How many people named Darrel are alive today?

An estimated 19 thousand people named Darrel are alive in the United States, based on 29,892 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Darrel mean?

Spelling variant of Darrell.

How popular is the name Darrel in 2025?

Darrel ranked #5,435 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Darrel?

29,892 babies have been named Darrel in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Darrel most popular?

Darrel peaked in 1960, when 664 newborns received the name.

Is Darrel a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Darrel rising or falling?

Darrel is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Darrel

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

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