Darwin
Boy name · #962 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
In 2025, 241 baby boys were named Darwin, placing it at #962 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #869, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,469 boys born in 2025 was named Darwin.
The 144-year story
Darwin first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1958, when 418 boys were named Darwin — good for #380 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.
Babies named Darwin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darwin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darwin in class?
Darwin scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Darwin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Darwin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Darwins were FL (30), TX (29), CA (25), NY (14), MA (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Darwin
Statistically, parents drawn to Darwin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kelvin, Vaughn, Van, Nelson, and Robin.
KelvinVaughnVanNelsonRobinLyndonDenisDarren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darwin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 241 | #960 |
| 2024 | 293 | #838 |
| 2023 | 228 | #970 |
| 2022 | 229 | #982 |
| 2021 | 196 | #1081 |
| 2020 | 248 | #905 |
| 2019 | 223 | #957 |
| 2018 | 237 | #907 |
| 2017 | 266 | #833 |
| 2016 | 263 | #855 |
| 2015 | 256 | #869 |
| 2014 | 236 | #909 |
| 2013 | 259 | #829 |
| 2012 | 248 | #855 |
| 2011 | 291 | #773 |
| 2010 | 313 | #732 |
| 2009 | 314 | #740 |
| 2008 | 280 | #785 |
| 2007 | 261 | #820 |
| 2006 | 266 | #781 |
| 2005 | 212 | #866 |
| 2004 | 217 | #820 |
| 2003 | 197 | #871 |
| 2002 | 179 | #901 |
| 2001 | 180 | #878 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Darwin a popular boy name?
Darwin ranked #962 among boys in 2025 with 241 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #869.
When was the name Darwin most popular?
Darwin peaked in 1958, when 418 American boys received the name (ranked #380 that year). Since 1958 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darwin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,469 newborn American boys was named Darwin. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.