Darl

♂ Boy

Pronounced DARL /ˈdɑrl/High

Meaning: Darl is a clipped form of Darrell, a surname-turned-first-name from the Norman French d'Airelle, a place name; the meaning it inherits is roughly 'from the open land'.Low

In 30 seconds: Darl is a short, blunt form of Darrell, a name carried from a Norman French place name meaning 'open land' (said 'DARL').

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Origin LowEnglish, Norman French

MeaningDarl is a clipped form of Darrell, a surname-turned-first-name from the Norman French d'Airelle, a place name; the meaning it inherits is roughly 'from the open land'.

U.S. rank (1999)#10249 ↘ Falling

1999 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1928

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,819

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

Darl is best understood as a spoken short form of Darrell, itself a surname from the Norman French d'Airelle ('from Airelle', an open stretch of land) that became a given name. Darl trims it to a single syllable.

It saw modest, steady American use across much of the twentieth century without ever becoming common — a few dozen boys a year at most — and today it feels dated, a grandfather's or great-grandfather's name.

Did you know? Darl is the name of the troubled brother Darl Bundren in William Faulkner's 1930 novel As I Lay Dying — a rare literary sighting for a rare name.

Overall data confidence 55%

Behind the Name — Darrell — parent name, Norman French d'AirelleU.S. Social Security Administration — 20th-century boys' use

Variations

DarrellDarrelDaryl

Nicknames

Dar

Famous Bearers

★Darl Bundren (fictional)
The introspective, doomed brother in William Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying (1930).

If you like Darl…

Darrell— the full name Darl is a short form of

Daryl— a sibling spelling of the same Darrell family

Darryl— another common spelling of the parent name

Carl— a short, one-beat mid-century boy's name with the same plain sound

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Darl mean?

Darl is a short form of Darrell, from a Norman French place name meaning 'open land'.

How do you pronounce Darl?

It's said DARL /ˈdɑrl/ — one syllable, rhyming with 'snarl'.

Is Darl a boy or girl name?

Darl is used as a boy's name, following Darrell.

How popular is Darl?

Darl is an uncommon name that saw modest use through the twentieth century and is rare today.