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Darius

♂ Boy

Pronounced deh-RY-us /dəˈɹaɪ.əs/High

Meaning: Possessor of goodness or he who upholds good; from Old Persian Darayavahush, combining daraya meaning to possess or hold and vahu meaning goodHigh

In 30 seconds: Darius is the Latinized form of the ancient Persian royal name meaning possessor of goodness, borne by three Persian emperors of the Achaemenid dynasty and carried into the modern world with regal gravitas.
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Origin HighPersian, Latin, Greek
MeaningPossessor of goodness or he who upholds good; from Old Persian Darayavahush, combining daraya meaning to possess or hold and vahu meaning good
U.S. rank (2025)#788 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births322 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1994
Total births (all-time)≈ 53,999

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199418802025

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

History & Origin

Darius is the Latin and Greek form of the Old Persian Darayavahush, composed of daraya (to hold, to possess) and vahu (good), giving the meaning possessor of goodness or he who holds firm to good. Three Persian kings bore this name, most importantly Darius I. It also appears in the Bible in the Book of Daniel.

Darius passed through Greek as Dareios and Latin as Darius into European consciousness. In the United States it has been a consistently used name, particularly popular in African-American communities since the 1970s, and has appeared in the national top 200 boys names. It carries both classical prestige and athletic association through various NFL and NBA players.

Did you know? Darius I the Great ruled the Persian Achaemenid Empire at its greatest extent (522-486 BC), administering a territory stretching from Greece to India. He built the royal road network, standardized weights and measures, and created the first Persian postal system — achievements that shaped the ancient world.
Overall data confidence 96%
Behind the Name — Darius — Old Persian etymology and classical historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DarioDarianDarion

Nicknames

DarDary

Famous Bearers

  • ★Darius I of Persia (550 BC–486 BC)
    Achaemenid Persian king who ruled the empire at its greatest extent, known for the Royal Road, the Persian postal system, and the First Persian invasion of Greece.
  • ★Darius Rucker (1966–present)
    American singer and musician, lead vocalist of Hootie and the Blowfish and solo country music star known for Wagon Wheel.

If you like Darius…

Cyrus— same ancient Persian imperial heritage and three-syllable grandeur
Dario— the Italian-Spanish form of the same Persian name
Tiberius— shares the Latin-classical three-syllable imperial name tradition
Julius— same three-syllable Latin imperial name with ancient royal prestige

Frequently Asked

What does the name Darius mean?

Darius means possessor of goodness, from the Old Persian Darayavahush combining daraya (to possess) and vahu (good).

How do you pronounce Darius?

It is said deh-RY-us, three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Darius a popular name?

Darius has been in the U.S. top 200 boys names at various points and remains in steady use, particularly in African-American communities.

Is Darius a Persian name?

Yes, Darius is the Latin form of the Old Persian royal name Darayavahush, borne by three Achaemenid Persian emperors.