Holding steady, #2,539 for boys today.
Popularity of Darel since 1915
Babies named Darel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2025, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Darel's real moment was 1940.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 47 |
| 1920s | 137 |
| 1930s | 192 |
| 1940s | 286 |
| 1950s | 352 |
| 1960s | 367 |
| 1970s | 195 |
| 1980s | 137 |
| 1990s | 149 |
| 2000s | 86 |
| 2010s | 104 |
| 2020s | 116 |
Meaning & origin
Darel is a rare given name that emerged in the early 20th century, first recorded in 1915. It saw its peak in 1940, aligning with the popularity of similar names like Darrell and Daryl. In 2025, the name ranked 2,539 nationally, with about 1 in 32,848 baby boys receiving it, indicating it remains a very uncommon choice. The name's usage has been relatively stable across decades, never experiencing a revival. Geographically, Darel has seen most of its use in Florida, Texas, and California, suggesting a possible Southern or Western preference. While the exact meaning is uncertain, it is likely an altered spelling of Darrell, which itself has debated origins.
Darel is a variant of Darrell, a surname that may derive from the Old French d'Airelle, meaning 'from Airelle', a place name. Alternatively, it could be a form of the Norman name Dairel. The name gained some use as a given name in the 20th century, especially in the United States, but never reached widespread popularity.
Where Darel is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Darel” around the world
Where Darel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dare, Darry
Sibling names for Darel
Names that share Darel's style, for a brother or sister.
