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Darnel
How to Pronounce Darnel
Pronounced dar-NEL /dΙrΛnΙl/High
Meaning: Darnel is a single-l spelling of Darnell, a name that arose as an English surname from a place name (Old French/English 'hidden nook' or 'concealed corner') and later as a first name popular in Black American communities. It also echoes darnel, an old grass name, though the personal name is the surname route.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Darnel reflects Darnell, which began as an English locational surname β from a spot named for a 'hidden nook' β before crossing into first-name use. Like many surnames it became a stylish given name in the twentieth century, especially in Black American naming of the 1970s and 80s.
The one-l Darnel stayed rarer than Darnell throughout, cresting in the mid-1980s before both cooled. It reads now as a warm, generation-X-era name rather than a current trend.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Darnel mean?
Darnel is a variant of Darnell, an English place-name/surname meaning 'hidden nook'.
How do you pronounce Darnel?
It's said dar-NEL /dΙrΛnΙl/ β two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Darnel a boy or girl name?
Darnel is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Darnel?
Uncommon β a scattered spelling of Darnell that peaked in the eighties and is rare today.