Daryl
Darryl is a given name, a variant spelling of Darell. Variations of this name include: Daryl, Daryll, Darryll, and Darrel.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Daryl
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Darryl is a given name, a variant spelling of Darell. Variations of this name include: Daryl, Daryll, Darryll, and Darrel.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Daryl
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Daryl as a girl name dates back to 1915, when 6 babies received it. 1950 was its biggest year on record, with 165 newborns named Daryl — #664 in the national rankings. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 30% of all recorded Daryls. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2017 (9 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 4K Daryls have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Daryl as a boy name dates back to 1912, when 13 babies received it. 1956 was its biggest year on record, with 1,832 newborns named Daryl — #165 in the national rankings. The 1960s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 24% of all recorded Daryls. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,132 among boy names with 70 births, falling sharply (-24%). In total, more than 63K Daryls have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Daryl
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Daryl. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Daryl
Phonetically similar names — useful when Daryl 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 Daryl
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How popular is Daryl in 2026?
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Is Daryl a unisex name?
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About the name Daryl
Daryl is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1912 and has accumulated 63K births in the dataset. Daryl's peak popularity came in 1956 when it ranked #161. Use the chart and map above to compare Daryl's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1956 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all boy 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.