Darcy

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAR-see /ˈdɑr.si/High

Meaning: From Norman d'Arcy, 'from Arcy', or Irish Ó Dorchaidhe, 'dark one' — Pride and Prejudice's leading manMedium

In 30 seconds: Ten thousand a year and brooding: Darcy is literature's most-proposed-to surname — Norman 'from Arcy', Irish 'dark one'. Mr. Darcy, available as a first name.

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Origin MediumFrench, Irish

MeaningFrom Norman d'Arcy, 'from Arcy', or Irish Ó Dorchaidhe, 'dark one' — Pride and Prejudice's leading man

U.S. rank (2024)#3805 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,760

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Darcy comes from Norman d'Arcy, 'from Arcy', and Irish Ó Dorchaidhe, 'descendant of the dark one'. Jane Austen's hero made it shorthand for reformed pride.

It registers thinly for boys now. Rare, dark-or-Norman at the root, and literary.

Did you know? Fitzwilliam Darcy's wet-shirt lake scene (1995, BBC) reignited two centuries of swooning — Austen's hero keeps the surname eternally eligible.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Darcy — etymology

Variations

D'ArcyDarceyDarsy

Nicknames

Darce

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Darcy…

Bennet— the novel's other famous surname

Byron— a fellow brooding-literary pick

Austen— the author-surname companion

Percy— a similarly popular pick

Clancy— another surname-name pick

Browse the whole category: All French names → · All Irish names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Darcy mean?

Darcy is Norman 'from Arcy' or Irish 'descendant of the dark one' — Austen's hero.

How do you pronounce Darcy?

It's said DAR-see /ˈdɑr.si/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Darcy a boy or girl name?

Darcy is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Darcy?

Darcy is a rare name for boys in the U.S.