Daryl

An uncommon Old French pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld FrenchDeclining Also a pet name
#1995 19in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A unisex given name transferred from the surname, variant of Darrell.

Daryl is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French origin, a variant of Darrell, from the Norman French surname d'Airelle, meaning 'from Airelle' (a village in Calvados, Normandy). The -yl spelling has been popularized by figures like musician Daryl Hall and The Walking Dead's Daryl Dixon.

With nearly 63,000 U.S. births, Daryl has had a genuinely long American run — it is one of those quiet, unpretentious names that simply gets the job done, carrying Norman-French heritage in a completely American package.

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Popularity Over Time

Daryl was #1018 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1995, but its charm endures.

04589161k2k192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Daryl
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s417
2010s1,196
2000s1,776
1990s3,519
1980s6,840
1970s11,014
1960s15,268
1950s14,505
1940s5,290
1930s1,842
1920s1,080
1910s193

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(113 years, 19122024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Daryl
YearBirthsRank
202477#1995
202375#2014
202278#1970
202192#1752
202095#1674
201974#1979
201899#1641
2017130#1366
2016142#1280
2015160#1161
2014139#1278
2013138#1264
201299#1590
2011104#1526
2010111#1470
2009136#1292
2008163#1122
2007165#1105
2006178#1029
2005185#947

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Daryl as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Daryl has also been given to 4,419 girls in the U.S. since 1915.

Unranked
Current rank
4,419
Total births
1950
Peak year
Compare Daryl as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Daryl be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Daryl is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1995. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Daryl has two lives

Daryl, the baby name
#1995boys
62,940 babies
Currently viewing
Daryl, the pet name
#2769pet name
32 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19122024) · Methodology