Darwin

Darwin - A very unique male name

Darwin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #655. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Darwin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Darwin? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Darwin. The baby boy name Darwin was given to 197 baby boys in 2025, ranking #955 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,443 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Darwin peaked in popularity 91 years ago in 1935 on position 297.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Darwin, 1-5?

Darwin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Darwin is currently topping the baby name charts in Connecticut at position #509 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,139.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Darwin is where you live.

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Darwin origin and meaning

Transferred surname (English)

A transferred surname — from the Old English personal name Deorwine, 'dear friend'

Darwin began as a surname derived from the Old English name Deorwine, 'dear friend.' Its use as a first name is inseparable from Charles Darwin, the naturalist whose surname it was — boys have been named Darwin in his honour since the 19th century. It peaked in the US in 1960 and has drifted slowly down ever since.

Attested etymology

Darwin is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Darwin, pop culture references for the name Darwin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Darwin

We've found the following names that sound similar to Darwin, sorted by popularity.

Darren / Darin / Darrin / Dorian / Darian / Darien / Daren / Darion / Daron / Darron /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Darwin

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Darwin a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Darwin?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

DAR-win · /ˈdɑːrwɪn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Charles Darwin — English naturalist who proposed evolution by natural selection in On the Origin of Species — Darwin is his surname, and he is the documented reason it became a first name (1809–1882) Historical

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Darwin as a science-honouring surname name — a quiet tribute to curiosity and evidence. It feels bookish and distinctive.

Worth knowing

• The evolution association is total — expect 'Darwin Awards' jokes about foolish deaths as well
• Reads as a surname first to many people