Darell
Darell was the 1828th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 87 babies. Its best year was 1948, when it ranked 813th; the most babies were born in 1988 (98). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,882 places. More babies were named Darell in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Darrell) from d'Airel (Norman place name) · French
- Rank in 2025
- #1,828 boys, up 70 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 87boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 198898 babies
- Total since 1880
- 5,430babies recorded
What does the name Darell mean?
Darell 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)
Darell popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 10 since 1986.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,828 | 87 |
| 2020 | #1,898 | 78 |
| 2010 | #2,744 | 44 |
| 2000 | #2,390 | 40 |
| 1990 | #1,075 | 98 |
| 1980 | #1,296 | 52 |
| 1970 | #1,093 | 56 |
| 1960 | #999 | 59 |
| 1950 | #919 | 56 |
| 1940 | #1,094 | 36 |
| 1930 | #2,205 | 13 |
| 1920 | #2,640 | 11 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Darell, counting every spelling?
Darell is a spelling of Darrell, a name family that ranked #631 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,828 for Darell 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 Darell?
87 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Darell (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Darell 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 96 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Darell.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Darell?
About 4,300 people born in the US named Darell are alive today, with a median age of 40; half are between 21 and 59. That makes Darell 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.
Darell by state
How common Darell was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Jersey (2.5×), New York (2.2×), Florida (1.9×). In 42 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 Darell: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Darell, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Darell
What does Darell mean?
Darell is a spelling of Darrell, which means “from d'Airel (Norman place name)” (French origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Darell?
Darell was the 1828th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 87 babies. Its best year was 1948, when it ranked 813th; the most babies were born in 1988 (98). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,882 places. More babies were named Darell in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Darell a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Darell in the US.
Where is Darell most popular?
In 2021–2025, Darell was most common in New Jersey (0.10 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and Florida.