Darryl Boy

Popularity: #833 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAIR-ul //ˈdɛr.əl//

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: beloved; French: dear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Darryl is believed to have originated from the Old French name "D'Airelle," which means "from Airelle," a place name derived from the word for a type of berry. The name made its way into English through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many French names were adopted into the English language.

The spelling "Darryl" became more standardized in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, although variations such as "Daryl" also exist. Historically, the name Darryl gained some prominence in the 20th century, particularly in the United States.

It was popularized by various cultural references, including notable figures in sports and entertainment. The name has been associated with characters in literature and film, contributing to its recognition.

However, specific historical milestones directly linked to the name are less documented compared to more traditional names with biblical or royal connections. Culturally, the name Darryl has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing strength and resilience.

It has been used in popular media, which has helped to solidify its place in contemporary culture. The name's phonetic appeal and straightforward pronunciation have contributed to its endurance over the years.

While diminutive forms such as "Darry" may be used informally, the name Darryl itself has maintained a distinct identity throughout its history.

Famous people named Darryl

In this section, you will find notable people named Darryl. 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 Darryl who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Darryl 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.

Darryl Strawberry is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees.

Darryl Hall is a musician best known as one half of the duo Hall & Oates, known for hits like Maneater and Rich Girl.

Darryl McDaniels is a rapper best known as a member of the hip hop group Run-D.M.C., known for songs like It's Like That and Walk This Way.

Darryl Sittler is a former professional ice hockey player best known for his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs and for scoring six goals in one game.

Darryl Jones is a musician best known as the bassist for The Rolling Stones since 1993.

Fictional characters named Darryl

The following list of fictional characters named Darryl 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.

Darryl is a fictional character from the TV series The Office. He is the warehouse foreman who often provides comic relief and insight into the dynamics of the office staff.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Darryl, 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 Darryl. 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 Darryl was first seen in the United States in 1913.

Darryl has ranked as high as #173 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Darryl 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 Darryl was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Darryl (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 9
21%
FL 7
17%
VA 6
14%
OH 5
12%
PA 5
12%
CA 5
12%
MD 5
12%

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 Darryl.

YearBirths
202491
202389
2022103
2021102
2020115
2019133
2018136
2017138
2016184
2015192
2014178
2013192
2012213
2011209
2010213
2009235
2008293
2007242
2006271
2005260
2004277
2003281
2002332
2001346
2000384
1999391
1998420
1997488
1996522
1995538
1994632
1993704
1992793
19911,001
19901,054
19891,130
19881,079
19871,076
19861,075
19851,127
19841,078
1983974
1982987
1981940
1980848
1979761
1978727
1977694
1976705
1975674
1974708
1973785
1972900
19711,064
19701,367
19691,593
19682,067
19672,826
19663,817
19654,926
19644,421
19635,012
19624,968
19615,133
19604,434
19592,778
19581,819
19571,798
19561,482
19551,425
19541,331
19531,268
19521,100
19511,074
19501,011
1949858
1948834
1947826
1946650
1945470
1944420
1943400
1942468
1941417
1940405
1939427
1938341
1937223
1936181
1935135
193497
193371
193245
193118
193020
192923
192815
192721
192616
192516
192412
19238
19228
19215
19197
19188
19177
19166
19155
19148
19136