Darnell
Darnell was the 2423rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 56 babies. Its best year was 1984, when it ranked 281st with 741 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,199 places. More babies were named Darnell in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · English, French
Say it dar-NEL /dɑrˈnɛl/
- Rank in 2025
- #2,423 boys, down 800 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 56boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1984741 babies
- Total since 1880
- 31,018babies recorded
What does the name Darnell mean?
Darnell is an English surname. Wiktionary derives it from darnel, a kind of ryegrass, or treats it as a variant of Darnall, a place-name; Wikipedia says the surname has English and French origins. As a first name it is mainly American and was most popular from the 1960s to the 1980s.
darnel (English, “a weedy ryegrass”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two possible origins for the surname (the plant darnel, or a place-name).
Related names: Darnelle, Darrell.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Darnell', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Darnell', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Darnell popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 2,387 since 1917.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,423 | 56 |
| 2020 | #1,623 | 99 |
| 2010 | #887 | 235 |
| 2000 | #659 | 274 |
| 1990 | #354 | 678 |
| 1980 | #351 | 516 |
| 1970 | #371 | 483 |
| 1960 | #445 | 328 |
| 1950 | #504 | 176 |
| 1940 | #1,111 | 35 |
| 1930 | #1,570 | 22 |
| 1920 | #2,358 | 13 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Darnell, counting every spelling?
Darnell is the most common spelling of a name family that had 61 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 61 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darnell | 56 | #2,423 | 401 |
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 Darnell?
56 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Darnell (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Darnell 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 150 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Darnell.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Darnell?
About 25,000 people born in the US named Darnell are alive today, with a median age of 41; half are between 30 and 54. That makes Darnell mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
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.
Darnell by state
How common Darnell was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Michigan (3.6×), Ohio (1.7×). In 41 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 Darnell: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Darnell, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Darnell · Sibling names for Darnell
Questions about the name Darnell
What does Darnell mean?
The origin of Darnell is uncertain: two possible origins for the surname (the plant darnel, or a place-name).
How popular is the name Darnell?
Darnell was the 2423rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 56 babies. Its best year was 1984, when it ranked 281st with 741 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,199 places. More babies were named Darnell in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Darnell a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Darnell in the US.
Where is Darnell most popular?
In 2021–2025, Darnell was most common in Michigan (0.17 per 1,000 boys), followed by Ohio and Pennsylvania.