Daryl
Darryl is a given name, a variant spelling of Darell. Variations of this name include: Daryl, Daryll, Darryll, and Darrel.
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 →
The Story of Daryl
As a girl name
Daryl first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1915, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1950, when 165 Daryls were born — ranking #664 that year. As of 2026, Daryl ranks #10,685 for girls with 9 births, with steady use. 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
Daryl first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1912, with 13 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1956, when 1,832 Daryls were born — ranking #165 that year. As of 2026, Daryl ranks #2,132 for boys 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
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
What does the name Daryl mean?
How popular is Daryl in 2026?
When was Daryl most popular?
In which U.S. states is Daryl most popular?
Is Daryl a unisex name?
What names go well with Daryl?
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" →
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- 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.