Total births
1,006
Boys' name · since 1937
Darnel
1,006 babies named Darnel in U.S. Social Security records since 1937, with the highest year being 1986. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 1,006
- total births
- 1937–2021
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
Darnel is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,006 have been recorded since 1937.
Social Security Administration records show Darnel recorded 1,006 times among boys since 1937, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1937 to 2021.
- 1,006 total births
- 1937–2021 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,006 boys have been named Darnel since 1937, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2021.
- 1,006
- total births
- 1937–2021
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Darnel was born in this single decade.
1986
Single peak year
36 babies were named Darnel in 1986 - its busiest year on record.
Darnel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Darnel's full recorded timeline at 1983, 57% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 43% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1941, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1986 peak of 36 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Darnel at a glance
Last recorded 2021Peak year
1986
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1937
Darnel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1937–2021
- Peak year (1986)
- 36
- Annual births at peak, across 85 years of records
Darnel popularity over time - girls
46 total births recorded since 1957 (Darnel as girls' name)
Darnel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Darnel's strongest decade.
218 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Darnel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 7
1930s
7 births
- 1940s 12
1940s
12 births
- 1950s 46
1950s
46 births
- 1960s
1960s
133 births
- 1970s
1970s
175 births
- 1980s
1980s
218 births
- 1990s
1990s
218 births
- 2000s
2000s
141 births
- 2010s 48
2010s
48 births
- 2020s 8
2020s
8 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 218 births (22% of all-time use).
How Darnel 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 Darnel's total volume
Darnel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Darnel by state
Where Darnel concentrates geographically, total births since 1937
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 115 | 11.4% |
| #2 | Florida | | 11 | 1.1% |
| #3 | California | | 5 | 0.5% |
New York share of Darnel's total US births 11.4%
Even split
115 of 1,006 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Darnel? ▼
Darnel has been given to 1,006 babies in the U.S. since 1937, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2021. 36 babies were born in 1986, its single highest year.
When was Darnel most popular? ▼
Darnel was most popular in the 1980s decade with 218 total births. The single peak year was 1986.
Where is Darnel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Darnel are New York (115 births), Florida (11 births), California (5 births).
How long has the name Darnel been used? ▼
Records for Darnel go back to 1937, giving 85 years of history through 2021.
What names are similar to Darnel? ▼
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 Darnel's data
- Darnel's decade-level peak was the 1980s (218 total births); usage has since declined to 8 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Darnels (115 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York 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 Darnel
Nearby Names Like Darnel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Darnel
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 Darnel side by side: Darnel vs Darrell Darnel vs Darren Darnel vs Darryl
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Ezriel #1899
1,006 births · Peak 2024
Ethaniel #4487
1,006 births · Peak 2009
Jahseh #1202
1,006 births · Peak 2023
Eva
1,007 births · Peak 1933
Chapman #4588
1,007 births · Peak 2014
Teron #12657
1,007 births · Peak 1994
Sebastiano #5261
1,005 births · Peak 2006
Cache #3129
1,005 births · Peak 2012
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, 1937–2021 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Darnel: Baby Name Since 1937 - 1,006 Births, Peak 1986." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/darnel. 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 Darnel 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.