Darel
Darel was the 2542nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 52 babies. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked 1034th; the most babies were born in 2025 (52). Over the last ten years it has moved up 5,647 places. More babies were named Darel in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Darrell) from d'Airel (Norman place name) · French
- Rank in 2025
- #2,542 boys, up 3,833 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 52boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202552 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,173babies recorded
What does the name Darel mean?
Darel is a spelling of Darrell, pronounced the same way, so it shares Darrell's meaning and origin.
Darrell comes from d'Airel, the name of a Norman family from a place called Airelle in Calvados, Normandy, as Wiktionary notes. It was transferred from the surname to a first name in the 19th century and was common in the US in the mid-20th century. The meaning of the French place name is not documented.
d'Airel (Norman French, “from Airelle”)
How sure is this? Well established. The place name's own meaning is unknown.
Related names: Darryl, Daryl, Darel.
See also: French names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Darrell', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (our computation), SSA (public domain)
Darel popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 1988.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,542 | 52 |
| 2020 | #6,375 | 13 |
| 2010 | #6,772 | 12 |
| 2000 | #6,955 | 9 |
| 1990 | #2,801 | 23 |
| 1980 | #2,636 | 18 |
| 1970 | #1,585 | 29 |
| 1960 | #1,366 | 34 |
| 1950 | #1,343 | 29 |
| 1940 | #1,034 | 39 |
| 1930 | #1,835 | 17 |
| 1920 | #3,014 | 9 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Darel, counting every spelling?
Darel is a spelling of Darrell, a name family that ranked #631 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,542 for Darel on its own. Together these spellings went to 435 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darrell | 97 | #1,691 | 588 |
| Darryl | 69 | #2,115 | 455 |
| Daryl | 113 | #1,529 | 435 |
| Darell | 87 | #1,828 | 355 |
| Darrel | 17 | #5,435 | 110 |
| Darel | 52 | #2,542 | 103 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Darel?
52 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Darel (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Darel born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 161 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Darel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Darel?
About 1,400 people born in the US named Darel are alive today, with a median age of 55; half are between 32 and 67. That makes Darel mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Darel by state
How common Darel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Darel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Darel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Darel
What does Darel mean?
Darel is a spelling of Darrell, which means “from d'Airel (Norman place name)” (French origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Darel?
Darel was the 2542nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 52 babies. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked 1034th; the most babies were born in 2025 (52). Over the last ten years it has moved up 5,647 places. More babies were named Darel in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Darel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Darel in the US.
Where is Darel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Darel was most common in Texas (0.02 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and California.