Darrell Boy

Popularity: #801 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DARE-el //ˈdɛr.əl//

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: beloved; French: to be dear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Darrell has its roots in the Old French surname "Darell," which is derived from the Norman personal name "Darel," itself a diminutive of the name "Dare," meaning "beloved" or "dear." This name entered the English language following the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Norman names and surnames were adopted by the English populace. The transition from the surname to a given name occurred over several centuries, with the name becoming more common in England by the late Middle Ages.

Historically, the name Darrell has been associated with various notable figures, including members of the English gentry and nobility. One significant milestone in the name's history is its appearance in literary works, particularly during the Renaissance when names reflecting affection and endearment became popular.

The name has also been linked to the Darrell family, who were prominent in English history, particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries, contributing to its recognition. Culturally, the name Darrell has been associated with qualities of warmth and affection, resonating with its etymological roots.

It has been used in various forms of literature and art, often symbolizing loyalty and fondness. The name's diminutive form, Darry, has also been used historically, though it is less common.

Overall, Darrell reflects a blend of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, maintaining its relevance through its historical associations and the sentiments it evokes.

Famous people named Darrell

In this section, you will find notable people named Darrell. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Darrell who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Darrell who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Darrell Waltrip is a former NASCAR driver and commentator best known for winning three NASCAR Cup Series championships and his work with Fox Sports.

Darrell Hammond is an actor and comedian best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, as well as roles in films like Scary Movie 3 and 4.

Darrell Green is a former professional American football player best known for his career with the Washington Redskins and being a two-time Super Bowl champion.

Fictional characters named Darrell

The following list of fictional characters named Darrell is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Darrell Rivers is a fictional character from the book series Malory Towers by Enid Blyton. She is a determined and spirited girl who navigates the challenges of boarding school life.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Darrell, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Darrell. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Darrell was first seen in the United States in 1886.

Darrell has ranked as high as #189 nationally, which occurred in 1958, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri.

In the past 5 years the name Darrell has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Darrell is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Darrell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Darrell (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 18
23%
CA 10
13%
FL 9
11%
IL 8
10%
NY 6
8%
IN 6
8%
LA 6
8%
NC 6
8%
GA 5
6%
MI 5
6%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Darrell.

YearBirths
2024123
2023110
2022127
2021130
2020147
2019169
2018189
2017240
2016235
2015226
2014259
2013286
2012288
2011338
2010304
2009317
2008388
2007416
2006415
2005405
2004410
2003400
2002405
2001453
2000499
1999545
1998533
1997556
1996609
1995628
1994746
1993876
1992915
19911,020
19901,128
19891,207
19881,213
19871,232
19861,308
19851,324
19841,335
19831,332
19821,391
19811,361
19801,462
19791,528
19781,466
19771,655
19761,660
19751,672
19741,840
19731,978
19722,311
19712,814
19703,148
19693,248
19683,446
19673,652
19663,496
19653,890
19643,969
19634,094
19623,878
19614,202
19604,149
19594,647
19584,770
19574,571
19564,468
19553,902
19543,644
19533,149
19522,868
19512,745
19502,494
19492,518
19482,336
19472,285
19461,905
19451,522
19441,580
19431,529
19421,591
19411,530
19401,430
19391,340
19381,356
19371,260
19361,208
19351,152
19341,129
19331,026
1932992
1931834
1930828
1929698
1928647
1927603
1926578
1925523
1924509
1923462
1922379
1921370
1920359
1919291
1918250
1917241
1916222
1915231
1914130
1913116
191294
191138
191029
190915
190818
190723
190614
190511
19049
19038
190211
19017
19009
18998
189814
189710
18966
18955
18945
18935
18916
18905
18865