Darnell
Boy name · #2425 in 2025 · Very rare
Darnell is currently the #2425 boy name in the United States — 56 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1223, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 32,143 boys born in 2025 was named Darnell.
Babies named Darnell per year. Source: SSA.
The 113-year story
Darnell first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1984, when 741 boys were named Darnell — good for #281 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Darnell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darnell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Darnell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Darnell will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darnell is most common
State-level data for Darnell is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Darnell
Statistically, parents drawn to Darnell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Donnell, Darell, Terrell, Marcell, and Kendell.
DonnellDarellTerrellMarcellKendellTyrellCordellMitchell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darnell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 | #2421 |
| 2024 | 63 | #2261 |
| 2023 | 85 | #1868 |
| 2022 | 95 | #1750 |
| 2021 | 102 | #1635 |
| 2020 | 99 | #1621 |
| 2019 | 128 | #1386 |
| 2018 | 129 | #1364 |
| 2017 | 150 | #1219 |
| 2016 | 151 | #1234 |
| 2015 | 150 | #1223 |
| 2014 | 197 | #1028 |
| 2013 | 191 | #1020 |
| 2012 | 203 | #983 |
| 2011 | 238 | #877 |
| 2010 | 235 | #886 |
| 2009 | 284 | #791 |
| 2008 | 313 | #732 |
| 2007 | 325 | #712 |
| 2006 | 305 | #712 |
| 2005 | 289 | #707 |
| 2004 | 271 | #709 |
| 2003 | 291 | #672 |
| 2002 | 262 | #693 |
| 2001 | 264 | #683 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Darnell a popular boy name?
Darnell ranked #2425 among boys in 2025 with 56 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1223.
When was the name Darnell most popular?
Darnell peaked in 1984, when 741 American boys received the name (ranked #281 that year). Since 1984 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darnell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 32,143 newborn American boys was named Darnell. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very 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.