Darwin
Boy name · #962 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Darwin? In official American birth records, Darwin has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darwin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darwin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Darwin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Darwin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darwin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Darwin is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Darwin is most common in FL (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Darwin is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Darwin?
In official American birth records, the name Darwin first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. 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.