Total births
184
Girls' name · since 1936
Darlen
Darlen has 184 recorded births since 1936 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2008 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 184
- total births
- 1936–2022
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
Darlen is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 184 have been recorded since 1936.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Darlen has been recorded 184 times among girls since 1936, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1936 to 2022.
- 184 total births
- 1936–2022 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 28% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
184 girls have been named Darlen since 1936, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 2022.
- 184
- total births
- 1936–2022
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
28% of everyone ever named Darlen was born in this single decade.
2008
Single peak year
11 babies were named Darlen in 2008 - its busiest year on record.
Darlen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Darlen's SSA record in two at 1987 and the more recent half accounts for 48% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 52%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1936, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2008 peak of 11, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Darlen at a glance
Last recorded 2022Peak year
2008
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1936
Darlen popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1936–2022
- Peak year (2008)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 87 years of records
Darlen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Darlen's strongest decade.
51 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Darlen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 10
1930s
10 births
- 1950s
1950s
29 births
- 1960s
1960s
51 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 1980s 10
1980s
10 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
- 2000s
2000s
39 births
- 2010s
2010s
30 births
- 2020s 5
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 51 births (28% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Darlen? ▼
Since 1936, Social Security records show 184 babies named Darlen. The most recent recorded year was 2022. Its busiest year on record was 2008, with 11 births.
When was Darlen most popular? ▼
Darlen was most popular in the 1960s decade with 51 total births. The single peak year was 2008.
How long has the name Darlen been used? ▼
Records for Darlen go back to 1936, giving 87 years of history through 2022.
What names are similar to Darlen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Darlene, Darla, Darcy, Dara, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Darlen's data
- Darlen's decade-level peak was the 1960s (51 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Darlen
Nearby Names Like Darlen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Darlen
Darlene Girl
#1779 204,942 births
Darla Girl
#1026 43,667 births
Darcy Girl
#978 23,418 births
Dara Girl
#1035 13,692 births
Daria Girl
#1955 9,063 births
Compare Darlen side by side: Darlen vs Darlene Darlen vs Darla Darlen vs Darcy
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1936–2022 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Darlen: Baby Name Since 1936 - 184 Births, Peak 2008." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/darlen. 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 Darlen 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.