Darby
Girl name · #2572 in 2025 · Uniqueness 77/100
In 2025, 68 baby girls were named Darby, placing it at #2572 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1861, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 26,471 girls born in 2025 was named Darby.
The 89-year story
Darby first appears in the Social Security records in 1936, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 491 girls were named Darby — good for #499 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Darby per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darby against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darby in class?
Darby scores 77 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Darby will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darby is most common
Geography matters for names, and Darby is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Darbys were TX (7), CA (5), OH (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Darby
Statistically, parents drawn to Darby tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Karly, Keely, Colby, Dasha, and Carley.
KarlyKeelyColbyDashaCarleyDejaDayshaKolby
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darby | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 68 | #2564 |
| 2024 | 51 | #3119 |
| 2023 | 74 | #2415 |
| 2022 | 68 | #2579 |
| 2021 | 95 | #2024 |
| 2020 | 82 | #2196 |
| 2019 | 89 | #2109 |
| 2018 | 89 | #2130 |
| 2017 | 123 | #1721 |
| 2016 | 120 | #1735 |
| 2015 | 110 | #1861 |
| 2014 | 106 | #1892 |
| 2013 | 119 | #1737 |
| 2012 | 118 | #1744 |
| 2011 | 136 | #1592 |
| 2010 | 152 | #1481 |
| 2009 | 136 | #1639 |
| 2008 | 161 | #1461 |
| 2007 | 189 | #1292 |
| 2006 | 156 | #1440 |
| 2005 | 197 | #1168 |
| 2004 | 188 | #1191 |
| 2003 | 215 | #1054 |
| 2002 | 235 | #951 |
| 2001 | 217 | #989 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Darby a popular girl name?
Darby ranked #2572 among girls in 2025 with 68 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1861.
When was the name Darby most popular?
Darby peaked in 1995, when 491 American girls received the name (ranked #499 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darby?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 26,471 newborn American girls was named Darby. It scores 77/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.