Boy · #2,855 in 2026

Darek

Name: Popularity of the name Darek in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Darek, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#2,855

Peak Rank

#1,123 (1973)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

+193%

1957

First Year

2026

Last Year

1973

Peak Year

#1123

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Darek

Darek first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1957, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1973, when 53 Dareks were born — ranking #1,123 that year. As of 2026, Darek ranks #2,855 for baby boys with 44 births, rising sharply (+193% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Dareks have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Darek

Phonetically similar names — useful when Darek is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Derek
Derrick
Derick
Derik
Derrek
Deric
Deryck
Deroche
Darak
Doric
Darrick
Dirac

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Darek

What does the name Darek mean?

Darek is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1957. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Darek in 2026?

In 2026, Darek ranks #2,855 among boys' names in the U.S., with 44 babies given the name that year.

When was Darek most popular?

Darek reached its peak popularity in 1973, ranking #1,123 that year with 53 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Darek most popular?

Darek has historically been most popular in Michigan, Illinois, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Darek.

Is Darek a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Darek is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Darek?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Darek include Waymond, Nickie, Jashua. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Darek

Darek is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1957 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Darek's peak popularity came in 1973 when it ranked #1,123. Use the chart and map above to compare Darek's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.