Daryl

Daryl - A very unique male name

Daryl appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #903. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Daryl and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Daryl? 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 Daryl. The baby boy name Daryl was given to 58 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1594 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 25,281 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Daryl peaked in popularity 56 years ago in 1970 on position 161.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Daryl, 1-5?

Daryl is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Daryl is currently topping the baby name charts in Michigan at position #1,148 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,614.

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 Daryl is where you live.

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Daryl origin and meaning

Transferred surname — derivation disputed

Uncertain — Daryl adapts the surname Darrell, usually traced to the Norman place name Airelle, though other derivations are proposed

Daryl is a spelling of Darrell streamlined for the 20th century; the surname behind it goes back to a Norman place name, but the details are not secure. It peaked in 1956 and has lately ticked up slightly. Its modern visibility owes much to a fictional bearer, The Walking Dead's Daryl Dixon.

Origin uncertain

Daryl is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Daryl

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

Darrell / Darryl / Darrel / Dariel / Derrell / Darell / Daryle / Darl / Durrell / Durell /

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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 Daryl

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 Daryl 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 Daryl?

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

DAH-rul · /ˈdærəl/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Darryl — The most common spelling of the name.
• Darrell — The surname-derived spelling — a separate established name.

Famous bearers

• Daryl Hall — American singer, the Hall of Hall & Oates (b. 1946) Contemporary
• Daryl Dixon — Crossbow-wielding survivor in the television series The Walking Dead (Fictional, 2010) Fictional

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Daryl reads as a sturdy mid-century name, kept in circulation by music and television bearers.

Worth knowing

• Three spellings (Daryl, Darryl, Darrell) are easily confused; the famous Daryl Hannah is a woman, adding a gender mix-up.