Darcy is an Old French surname meaning "from Arcy" (the Norman village of Arcy-sur-Cure) that arrived in England with the Conquest and spent centuries as a patrician English family name before becoming a given name. Its peak in 1970 was modest; its current resurgence is real, fueled almost entirely by one fictional character: Mr. Darcy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
The Norman Origin
The D'Arcy family were Norman nobles who came to England in 1066, recorded in various forms throughout English history. As a given name, it was used for boys and girls from the 19th century onward, associated with aristocratic English lineage. The Old French origin places Darcy in interesting company among Old French-origin names, alongside Bailey, Lacey, and Courtney, all of which similarly traveled from Norman French into English naming. But Darcy's association with the Austen character gives it a literary weight those names don't share.
The Austen Effect
Fitzwilliam Darcy is one of English literature's most enduring romantic figures: proud, brooding, ultimately good. Colin Firth's 1995 BBC portrayal and Matthew Macfadyen's 2005 film version refreshed the association for new generations. For girls named Darcy today, the literary connection is immediate and almost universally positive. At 23,100 total SSA records, the name has real usage, and the current rank of 983 suggests active choosing. Browse rising names for names in a similar literary-revival trajectory.
Counter-Reading: The Gender Ambiguity
Darcy has been used for boys in England. Less commonly than for girls in the US, but the usage exists, and the Austen character is male. Some parents may field questions about gender-neutrality that wouldn't arise with more clearly feminine names. Compare Darcy and Darcie to see how the two spellings diverge in practice. Browse 1970s names for the original peak context.