Darko

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAR-koh /ˈdɑr.koʊ/Medium

Meaning: A South Slavic name, often a diminutive linked to 'dar' ('gift') or a short form of names like Darislav/Dragan. Common in Serbia, Croatia and North Macedonia. A warm heritage name.Low

In 30 seconds: A warm Slavic name: Darko is tied to 'dar' — 'gift' (said 'DAR-koh').

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumSlavic

MeaningA South Slavic name, often a diminutive linked to 'dar' ('gift') or a short form of names like Darislav/Dragan. Common in Serbia, Croatia and North Macedonia. A warm heritage name.

U.S. rank (2024)#12688 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 67

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Darko is a South Slavic name, often a short form or diminutive tied to 'dar' ('gift') or to names like Darislav and Dragan. It is well loved across the Balkans, and gained pop-culture recognition through the film 'Donnie Darko' (said 'DAR-koh').

In the U.S. it appears rarely, mostly in Slavic families. Warm, Balkan-heritage, and distinctive.

Did you know? Darko is a South Slavic name linked to 'dar' ('gift') — common across Serbia and Croatia, and known from the film 'Donnie Darko' (said 'DAR-koh').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Darko — South Slavic name tied to 'dar' ('gift')

Variations

DarcoDarioDragan

Nicknames

DarDarki

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Darko…

Dario— a like crisp '-o' name

Marko— a like Slavic '-ko' pick

Stefan— a like Balkan boy's name

Damjan— a like heritage Slavic choice

Explore names like Darko

By themeheritage short slavic gift

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Darko mean?

Darko is a South Slavic name linked to 'dar' ('gift').

How do you pronounce Darko?

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

Is Darko a boy or girl name?

Darko is a boy's name.

How popular is Darko?

Darko is a rare name in the U.S., used mainly in Slavic families.