Darby
Darby is an English locational surname and has since become a given name. Its prefix derives from the Old Norse djúr ("deer"), and the suffix -býr ("farm"/"settlement"). The oldest recorded use as a surname dates to the period of 1160–1182 in Lincolnshire. Darby was a common pre-1800 alternative spelling of Derby, a city in England.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Darby
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Darby is an English locational surname and has since become a given name. Its prefix derives from the Old Norse djúr ("deer"), and the suffix -býr ("farm"/"settlement"). The oldest recorded use as a surname dates to the period of 1160–1182 in Lincolnshire. Darby was a common pre-1800 alternative spelling of Derby, a city in England.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Darby
As a girl name
American parents first put Darby on the record books as a girl name in 1936, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 491 Darbys were born — ranking #499 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 31% of all recorded Darbys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,274 among girl names with 48 births, falling sharply (-39%). In total, more than 8K Darbys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Darby as a boy name dates back to 1913, when 6 babies received it. 1970 was its biggest year on record, with 130 newborns named Darby — #721 in the national rankings. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 24% of all recorded Darbys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,801 among boy names with 11 births, falling sharply (-42%). In total, more than 3K Darbys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Darby
Phonetically similar names — useful when Darby is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Darby
What does the name Darby mean?
What is the origin of the name Darby?
How popular is Darby in 2026?
When was Darby most popular?
In which U.S. states is Darby most popular?
Is Darby a unisex name?
What names go well with Darby?
About the name Darby
Darby is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1936 and has accumulated 8K births in the dataset. Darby's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #499. Use the chart and map above to compare Darby's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1995 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.