Darcy

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAR-see /ˈdɑːr.si/High

Meaning: From the Norman-French surname d'Arcy, meaning 'from Arcy' (a place in Normandy); also used as an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic O'Dorchaidhe, meaning 'descendant of the dark one'High

In 30 seconds: Darcy is a Norman-French surname meaning from Arcy, brought to England and Ireland after 1066. It gained enormous cultural currency through Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and has become a quietly sophisticated girls name.

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Origin HighOld French, Irish Gaelic

MeaningFrom the Norman-French surname d'Arcy, meaning 'from Arcy' (a place in Normandy); also used as an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic O'Dorchaidhe, meaning 'descendant of the dark one'

U.S. rank (2025)#857 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births316 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 23,416

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Darcy is the anglicized form of the Norman-French d'Arcy (from Arcy), referring to a town in Normandy. The Norman family D'Arcy came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and later to Ireland, where the name also merged with the Irish O'Dorchaidhe, meaning 'descendant of the dark one', from dorcha (dark). Both strands converged as Darcy in English usage.

As a given name, Darcy was traditionally male but has transitioned almost entirely to female use in the 21st century English-speaking world. Jane Austen's fictional Mr. Darcy — first published in 1813 — paradoxically drove the name toward female use by making it both romantic and literarily prestigious. In the U.S. and UK, Darcy is now a girls name of understated elegance.

Did you know? Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the brooding romantic hero of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813), is consistently voted one of the most beloved male literary characters in the English language — making Darcy one of literature's most impactful names.

Overall data confidence 88%

Behind the Name — Darcy — Norman-French and Irish Gaelic etymologyMacLysaght, E. — Irish Families — O'Dorchaidhe history

Variations

DarceyDarcieDarci

Nicknames

Dar

Famous Bearers

★Mr. Darcy (fictional) (fictional)
Fitzwilliam Darcy, the romantic hero of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice (1813), one of the most beloved characters in English literature.

If you like Darcy…

Aubrey— same Norman-French surname heritage and the sophisticated girls name transition

Marlowe— shares the literary surname-as-given-name quality and sophisticated feel

Quinn— fellow one-two syllable Irish/Norman surname used for girls

Finley— same category of Celtic/Norman surname names now used for girls

Frequently Asked

What does the name Darcy mean?

Darcy means from Arcy (a place in Normandy) as a Norman-French surname, and also relates to the Irish dark one from Gaelic dorcha.

How do you pronounce Darcy?

It is said DAR-see, with two syllables.

Is Darcy a girls name?

Darcy was traditionally a surname and male name but is now used predominantly for girls in English-speaking countries.

Is Darcy related to Pride and Prejudice?

Yes — Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is the most famous bearer and greatly influenced the name's romantic reputation.