Daryl Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DARE-ul //ˈdɛr.əl//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: beloved; French: dear
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Daryl has its roots in the Old French name "D'Airelle," which means "from Airelle." This name was derived from the word "airelle," referring to a type of berry, specifically the bilberry or huckleberry. The transition of the name into English occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French names were adopted into the English language.
Over time, the name evolved into various forms, including Daryl, which became more standardized in the 20th century. Historically, the name Daryl gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly in the United States.
It is often associated with the mid-20th century cultural milieu, including literature and film. Notably, the name was popularized by the character Daryl Dixon from the television series "The Walking Dead," which began airing in the early 2010s.
However, its roots can be traced back to earlier usages, where it appeared in various forms in literature and records, although specific historical figures bearing the name are less documented. Culturally, Daryl has been associated with qualities such as strength and resilience, likely influenced by its usage in popular media.
The name has also been linked to various diminutive forms, such as Darry, which have appeared in informal contexts. While the name Daryl may not have the same historical weight as some biblical or royal names, its evolution reflects broader trends in naming practices and cultural influences throughout the centuries.
Famous people named Daryl
In this section, you will find notable people named Daryl. 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 Daryl who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Daryl 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.
Daryl Hannah is an actress best known for Splash, Blade Runner, and Kill Bill.
Daryl Strawberry is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Daryl Hall is a musician best known as a member of Hall & Oates, known for hits like Maneater and Rich Girl.
Daryl Sattler is a professional wrestler best known for his work in various independent wrestling promotions.
Daryl McCormack is an actor best known for his roles in Peaky Blinders, Bad Sisters, and the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.
Fictional characters named Daryl
The following list of fictional characters named Daryl 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.
Daryl Dixon is a fictional character from the comic book series and TV show The Walking Dead. He is a skilled hunter and tracker who becomes a key member of the survivor group.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Daryl, 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 Daryl. 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 Daryl was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Daryl has ranked as high as #350 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Daryl has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Daryl 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 Daryl was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Daryl (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 |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 9 | |
| PA | 7 | |
| CA | 6 | |
| NC | 5 |
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 Daryl.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 77 |
| 2023 | 75 |
| 2022 | 78 |
| 2021 | 92 |
| 2020 | 95 |
| 2019 | 74 |
| 2018 | 99 |
| 2017 | 130 |
| 2016 | 142 |
| 2015 | 160 |
| 2014 | 139 |
| 2013 | 138 |
| 2012 | 99 |
| 2011 | 104 |
| 2010 | 111 |
| 2009 | 136 |
| 2008 | 163 |
| 2007 | 165 |
| 2006 | 178 |
| 2005 | 185 |
| 2004 | 161 |
| 2003 | 175 |
| 2002 | 181 |
| 2001 | 199 |
| 2000 | 233 |
| 1999 | 211 |
| 1998 | 242 |
| 1997 | 293 |
| 1996 | 291 |
| 1995 | 310 |
| 1994 | 354 |
| 1993 | 409 |
| 1992 | 422 |
| 1991 | 488 |
| 1990 | 499 |
| 1989 | 567 |
| 1988 | 649 |
| 1987 | 679 |
| 1986 | 689 |
| 1985 | 715 |
| 1984 | 633 |
| 1983 | 656 |
| 1982 | 719 |
| 1981 | 770 |
| 1980 | 763 |
| 1979 | 871 |
| 1978 | 839 |
| 1977 | 1,000 |
| 1976 | 896 |
| 1975 | 840 |
| 1974 | 954 |
| 1973 | 1,028 |
| 1972 | 1,200 |
| 1971 | 1,593 |
| 1970 | 1,793 |
| 1969 | 1,605 |
| 1968 | 1,513 |
| 1967 | 1,341 |
| 1966 | 1,330 |
| 1965 | 1,429 |
| 1964 | 1,529 |
| 1963 | 1,610 |
| 1962 | 1,576 |
| 1961 | 1,682 |
| 1960 | 1,653 |
| 1959 | 1,559 |
| 1958 | 1,787 |
| 1957 | 1,693 |
| 1956 | 1,832 |
| 1955 | 1,535 |
| 1954 | 1,469 |
| 1953 | 1,354 |
| 1952 | 1,183 |
| 1951 | 1,117 |
| 1950 | 976 |
| 1949 | 977 |
| 1948 | 855 |
| 1947 | 735 |
| 1946 | 600 |
| 1945 | 392 |
| 1944 | 370 |
| 1943 | 361 |
| 1942 | 336 |
| 1941 | 331 |
| 1940 | 333 |
| 1939 | 288 |
| 1938 | 242 |
| 1937 | 229 |
| 1936 | 207 |
| 1935 | 134 |
| 1934 | 158 |
| 1933 | 172 |
| 1932 | 154 |
| 1931 | 124 |
| 1930 | 134 |
| 1929 | 122 |
| 1928 | 106 |
| 1927 | 117 |
| 1926 | 126 |
| 1925 | 95 |
| 1924 | 102 |
| 1923 | 95 |
| 1922 | 199 |
| 1921 | 67 |
| 1920 | 51 |
| 1919 | 39 |
| 1918 | 35 |
| 1917 | 32 |
| 1916 | 16 |
| 1915 | 30 |
| 1914 | 22 |
| 1913 | 6 |
| 1912 | 13 |