Total births
159,766
Boys' name · since 1886
Darrell
Darrell has 159,766 recorded births since 1886 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1958 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #1460
- among boys today
- 159,766
- born since 1886
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 90%
- more common than other boys
Darrell currently ranks #1460 among boys' names in America, with 159,766 babies recorded since 1886.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Darrell has been recorded 159,766 times among boys since 1886, currently ranked #1460 nationally and more common than 90% of boys, 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 1886 to 2025.
- #1460 among boys today
- 159,766 born since 1886
- 1960s peak decade
- 90% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Darrell is currently the #1460 boys' name in America, more common than 90% of boys - 159,766 born since 1886, peaking in the 1960s.
- #1460
- among boys today
- 159,766
- born since 1886
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 90%
- more common than other boys
Darrell vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1460
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 90% of names given to boys today.
1960s
Peak decade
24% of everyone ever named Darrell was born in this single decade.
1958
Single peak year
4,771 babies were named Darrell in 1958 - its busiest year on record.
How Darrell compares
159,766 Top 2% higher than 98% 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
Darrell's all-time total is 435x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Darrell | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 159,766 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 4,771 | 23 | 22,252 |
Darrell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Darrell's SSA record in two at 1958 and the more recent half accounts for 60% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 40%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1886, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1958 peak of 4,771, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Darrell at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1958
Current rank
#1,460
Active since
1886
Darrell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–2025
- Peak year (1958)
- 4,771
- Annual births at peak, across 140 years of records
Darrell popularity over time - girls
1,186 total births recorded since 1916 (Darrell as girls' name)
Darrell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Darrell's strongest decade.
38,025 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.
Darrell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 64
1890s
64 births
- 1900s 125
1900s
125 births
- 1910s 1,642
1910s
1,642 births
- 1920s 5,128
1920s
5,128 births
- 1930s 11,126
1930s
11,126 births
- 1940s
1940s
18,225 births
- 1950s
1950s
37,257 births
- 1960s
1960s
38,025 births
- 1970s
1970s
20,072 births
- 1980s 13,162
1980s
13,162 births
- 1990s 7,556
1990s
7,556 births
- 2000s 4,108
2000s
4,108 births
- 2010s 2,536
2010s
2,536 births
- 2020s 735
2020s
735 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 38,025 births (24% of all-time use).
How Darrell 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 Darrell's total volume
Darrell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Darrell by state
Where Darrell concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 12,903 | 8.1% |
| #2 | California | | 11,324 | 7.1% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 8,115 | 5.1% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 7,785 | 4.9% |
| #5 | Kentucky | | 6,076 | 3.8% |
| #6 | Missouri | | 5,669 | 3.5% |
| #7 | North Carolina | | 5,590 | 3.5% |
| #8 | Indiana | | 5,434 | 3.4% |
Texas share of Darrell's total US births 8.1%
Even split
12,903 of 159,766 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 51 reporting states.
Darrell appears in 51 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Darrell? ▼
Since 1886, Social Security records show 159,766 babies named Darrell. Today it holds rank #1460 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1958, with 4,771 births.
When was Darrell most popular? ▼
Darrell was most popular in the 1960s decade with 38,025 total births. The single peak year was 1958.
Where is Darrell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Darrell are Texas (12,903 births), California (11,324 births), Illinois (8,115 births).
How long has the name Darrell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Darrell since 1886 -- 140 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Darrell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Darren, Darryl, Daryl, Darius, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Darrell's data
- Darrell's decade-level peak was the 1960s (38,025 total births); usage has since declined to 735 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Darrells (12,903 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Darrell
Nearby Names Like Darrell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Darrell
Darren Boy
#954 103,937 births
Darryl Boy
#1798 92,285 births
Daryl Boy
#2001 63,058 births
Darius Boy
#746 54,006 births
Darin Boy
#3548 32,546 births
Compare Darrell side by side: Darrell vs Darren Darrell vs Darryl Darrell vs Daryl
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Darrell
Marquis #1459
24,567 births · Peak 1990
Armon #1461
3,958 births · Peak 2023
Jaxtyn #1458
2,208 births · Peak 2020
Pierson #1462
3,522 births · Peak 2020
Jahir #1457
2,842 births · Peak 2003
Carver #1463
3,161 births · Peak 2018
Kolten #1456
5,929 births · Peak 2015
Kip #1464
8,568 births · Peak 1965
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, 1886–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Darrell: #1460 Boys' Name - 159,766 Births, Peak 1958." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/darrell. 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 Darrell 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.