Total births
1,045
Girls' name · since 1920
Darling
1,045 babies named Darling in U.S. Social Security records since 1920, with the highest year being 2024. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #3342
- among girls today
- 1,045
- born since 1920
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other girls
1,045 babies have been named Darling since 1920, making it today's #3342 girls' name.
Darling has 1,045 recorded births among girls since 1920, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #3342 as of the latest data, more common than 81% of girls, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1920 to 2025.
- #3342 among girls today
- 1,045 born since 1920
- 2010s peak decade
- 81% more common than other girls
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Darling is currently the #3342 girls' name in America, more common than 81% of girls - 1,045 born since 1920, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3342
- among girls today
- 1,045
- born since 1920
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other girls
Darling vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#3342
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 81% of names given to girls today.
2010s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Darling was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
47 babies were named Darling in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How Darling compares
1,045 Top 31% higher than 69% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Darling's all-time total is 174% above the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Darling | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,045 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 47 | 48 | 19,840 |
Darling's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Darling splits its recorded history at 1987: 71% of all births land in the more recent half, 29% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1931 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2024 peak of 47 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Darling at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2024
Current rank
#3,342
Active since
1920
Darling popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1920–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 47
- Annual births at peak, across 106 years of records
Darling popularity over time - boys
15 total births recorded since 1932 (Darling as boys' name)
Darling by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Darling's strongest decade.
228 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Darling births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 20
1920s
20 births
- 1930s 15
1930s
15 births
- 1940s 35
1940s
35 births
- 1950s 56
1950s
56 births
- 1960s 69
1960s
69 births
- 1970s 32
1970s
32 births
- 1980s
1980s
105 births
- 1990s
1990s
121 births
- 2000s
2000s
152 births
- 2010s
2010s
228 births
- 2020s
2020s
212 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 228 births (22% of all-time use).
How Darling compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Darling's total volume
Darling vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Darling by state
Where Darling concentrates geographically, total births since 1920
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 174 | 16.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 25 | 2.4% |
| #3 | Florida | | 16 | 1.5% |
| #4 | New York | | 6 | 0.6% |
California share of Darling's total US births 16.7%
Even split
174 of 1,045 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Darling? ▼
Since 1920, Social Security records show 1,045 babies named Darling. Today it holds rank #3342 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 2024, with 47 births.
When was Darling most popular? ▼
Darling was most popular in the 2010s decade with 228 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is Darling most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Darling are California (174 births), Texas (25 births), Florida (16 births).
How long has the name Darling been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Darling since 1920 -- 106 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Darling? ▼
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 Darling's data
- Darling's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (228 total births) through the 2020s (212) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Darlings (174 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 Darling
Nearby Names Like Darling
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Darling
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 Darling side by side: Darling vs Darlene Darling vs Darla Darling vs Darcy
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Darling
Silver #3341
1,749 births · Peak 2023
Nichole #3343
63,770 births · Peak 1985
Adlee #3340
1,189 births · Peak 2012
Kaylen #3344
7,150 births · Peak 2009
Audree #3339
3,727 births · Peak 2013
Mecca #3345
2,288 births · Peak 1995
Xenia #3338
2,937 births · Peak 2023
Natali #3346
4,822 births · Peak 2006
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1920–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Darling: #3342 Girls' Name - 1,045 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/darling. 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 Darling 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 July 2026.