Darius
Boy name · #789 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Darius? In official American birth records, Darius has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Darius is currently the #789 boy name in the United States — 322 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #501, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,590 boys born in 2025 was named Darius.
Babies named Darius per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Darius first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1994, when 2,184 boys were named Darius — good for #155 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darius against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darius in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Darius is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Darius will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darius is most common
Geography matters for names, and Darius is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Darius is most common in MO (0.4 per 1,000), WA (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), GA (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Darius is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Darius
Statistically, parents drawn to Darius tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Demetrius, Markus, Darian, Dillon, and Deandre.
DemetriusMarkusDarianDillonDeandreDemarcusOctaviusDevon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darius | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 322 | #788 |
| 2024 | 344 | #746 |
| 2023 | 367 | #723 |
| 2022 | 402 | #679 |
| 2021 | 434 | #636 |
| 2020 | 469 | #592 |
| 2019 | 491 | #567 |
| 2018 | 553 | #510 |
| 2017 | 584 | #495 |
| 2016 | 584 | #511 |
| 2015 | 579 | #501 |
| 2014 | 614 | #473 |
| 2013 | 718 | #410 |
| 2012 | 730 | #399 |
| 2011 | 766 | #380 |
| 2010 | 929 | #337 |
| 2009 | 956 | #333 |
| 2008 | 1,052 | #318 |
| 2007 | 1,090 | #306 |
| 2006 | 1,244 | #278 |
| 2005 | 1,134 | #291 |
| 2004 | 1,117 | #284 |
| 2003 | 1,289 | #255 |
| 2002 | 1,422 | #237 |
| 2001 | 1,568 | #218 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Darius?
In official American birth records, the name Darius first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Darius a popular boy name?
Darius ranked #789 among boys in 2025 with 322 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #501.
When was the name Darius most popular?
Darius peaked in 1994, when 2,184 American boys received the name (ranked #155 that year). Since 1994 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darius?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,590 newborn American boys was named Darius. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.