Darrel
Darrel was the 5435th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 1939, when it ranked 243rd; the most babies were born in 1960 (659). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,832 places. More babies were named Darrel in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Darrell) from d'Airel (Norman place name) · French
- Rank in 2025
- #5,435 boys, down 864 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 17boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1960659 babies
- Total since 1880
- 29,892babies recorded
What does the name Darrel mean?
Darrel 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)
Darrel popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 123 since 1929.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,435 | 17 |
| 2020 | #4,571 | 21 |
| 2010 | #3,257 | 34 |
| 2000 | #1,643 | 71 |
| 1990 | #774 | 173 |
| 1980 | #616 | 203 |
| 1970 | #413 | 392 |
| 1960 | #302 | 659 |
| 1950 | #295 | 530 |
| 1940 | #252 | 474 |
| 1930 | #346 | 265 |
| 1920 | #510 | 143 |
| 1910 | #1,227 | 8 |
| 1900 | #1,070 | 7 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Darrel, counting every spelling?
Darrel is a spelling of Darrell, a name family that ranked #631 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,435 for Darrel 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 Darrel?
17 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Darrel (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Darrel 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 495 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Darrel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Darrel?
About 17,400 people born in the US named Darrel are alive today, with a median age of 63; half are between 49 and 72. That makes Darrel a name most people associate with older generations.
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.
Darrel by state
How common Darrel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 50 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 Darrel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Darrel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Darrel
What does Darrel mean?
Darrel is a spelling of Darrell, which means “from d'Airel (Norman place name)” (French origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Darrel?
Darrel was the 5435th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 1939, when it ranked 243rd; the most babies were born in 1960 (659). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,832 places. More babies were named Darrel in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Darrel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Darrel in the US.
Where is Darrel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Darrel was most common in Florida (0.01 per 1,000 boys).