Boy · #12,301 in 2026

Darko

Darko is a common South Slavic masculine given name. It is derived from the Slavic root dar 'gift'. Its oldest mention is from the 14th century, included in the Dečani chrysobulls (1330).

Current Rank
#12,301
Peak Rank
#7,093 (2017)
Total Babies
67
5-Yr Trend
-17%
1987
First Year
2024
Last Year
2017
Peak Year
#7093
Peak Rank
67
Total Count
10
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Darko

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Darko is a common South Slavic masculine given name. It is derived from the Slavic root dar 'gift'. Its oldest mention is from the 14th century, included in the Dečani chrysobulls (1330).

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Darko

Darko first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1987, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 11 Darkos were born — ranking #7,093 that year. As of 2026, Darko ranks #12,301 for baby boys with 5 births, falling sharply (-17%). In total, more than 67 Darkos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Darko

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

  • Darco
  • Dorko
  • Darky
  • Darkie
  • Darcie
  • Darkey
  • Dorky
  • Dark
  • Darks
  • Darke
  • Daro
  • Darc

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Darko

What does the name Darko mean?
Darko is a common South Slavic masculine given name. It is derived from the Slavic root dar 'gift'. Its oldest mention is from the 14th century, included in the Dečani chrysobulls (1330).
How popular is Darko in 2026?
In 2026, Darko ranks #12,301 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Darko most popular?
Darko reached its peak popularity in 2017, ranking #7,093 that year with 11 babies given the name.
Is Darko a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Darko is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Darko?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Darko include Armor, Danis, Hanz. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Darko

Darko is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1987 and has accumulated 67 births in the dataset. Darko's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #7,093. Use the chart and map above to compare Darko'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.