Total births
1,561
Boys' name · since 1957
Darek
1,561 babies named Darek in U.S. Social Security records since 1957, with the highest year being 1973. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #3716
- among boys today
- 1,561
- born since 1957
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 74%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Darek is the #3716 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,561 recorded since 1957.
Darek has 1,561 recorded births among boys since 1957, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #3716 as of the latest data, more common than 74% of boys, busiest in the 1980s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1957 to 2025.
- #3716 among boys today
- 1,561 born since 1957
- 1980s peak decade
- 74% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Darek is currently the #3716 boys' name in America, more common than 74% of boys - 1,561 born since 1957, peaking in the 1980s.
- #3716
- among boys today
- 1,561
- born since 1957
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 74%
- more common than other boys
Darek vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3716
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 74% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Darek was born in this single decade.
1973
Single peak year
53 babies were named Darek in 1973 - its busiest year on record.
How Darek compares
1,561 Top 24% higher than 76% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Darek's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Darek | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,561 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 53 | 23 | 22,252 |
Darek's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Darek's full recorded timeline at 1993, 47% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 53% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1957, with just 6 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1973 peak of 53 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Darek at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1973
Current rank
#3,716
Active since
1957
Darek popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1957–2025
- Peak year (1973)
- 53
- Annual births at peak, across 69 years of records
Darek by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Darek's strongest decade.
325 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Darek births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 6
1950s
6 births
- 1960s 107
1960s
107 births
- 1970s
1970s
292 births
- 1980s
1980s
325 births
- 1990s
1990s
311 births
- 2000s
2000s
196 births
- 2010s
2010s
154 births
- 2020s
2020s
170 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 325 births (21% of all-time use).
How Darek compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Darek's total volume
Darek vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Darek by state
Where Darek concentrates geographically, total births since 1957
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 51 | 3.3% |
| #2 | Texas | | 35 | 2.2% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 18 | 1.2% |
| #4 | New York | | 18 | 1.2% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 17 | 1.1% |
| #6 | Florida | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Darek's total US births 3.3%
Even split
51 of 1,561 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Darek? ▼
1,561 babies have been named Darek since 1957. It currently ranks #3716 among boys. The peak year was 1973 with 53 births.
When was Darek most popular? ▼
Darek was most popular in the 1980s decade with 325 total births. The single peak year was 1973.
Where is Darek most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Darek are California (51 births), Texas (35 births), Illinois (18 births).
How long has the name Darek been used? ▼
Darek has been recorded in Social Security data since 1957, spanning 69 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Darek? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Darrell, Darren, Darryl, Daryl, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Darek's data
- Darek's usage has stayed within range of its 1980s decade-level peak (325 total births) through the 2020s (170) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Dareks (51 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Darek
Nearby Names Like Darek
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Darek
Darrell Boy
#1460 159,766 births
Darren Boy
#954 103,937 births
Darryl Boy
#1798 92,285 births
Daryl Boy
#2001 63,058 births
Darius Boy
#746 54,006 births
Compare Darek side by side: Darek vs Darrell Darek vs Darren Darek vs Darryl
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Darek
Christofer #3715
3,856 births · Peak 2007
Brennon #3717
4,382 births · Peak 2009
Wallen #3714
143 births · Peak 2024
Darrion #3718
4,398 births · Peak 1994
Graeme #3713
2,876 births · Peak 2012
Kendric #3719
2,530 births · Peak 2013
Auggie #3712
247 births · Peak 2022
Rasheed #3720
4,838 births · Peak 1995
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1957–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Darek: #3716 Boys' Name - 1,561 Births, Peak 1973." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/darek. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Darek draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.