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Darnella

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Darnella

Pronounced dar-NEL-uh /dɑːrˈnɛlə/Medium

Meaning: Darnella is a feminine form of Darnell, made by adding the -a ending. Darnell is an English surname, from a place name tied to 'darnel', a wild grass, or from a Norman French locale; as a first name it became popular in African American families, and Darnella extends it to girls.Low

In 30 seconds: Darnella is a feminine form of the surname Darnell, given the -a ending, a rare mid-century girl's name said dar-NEL-uh.

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Origin LowEnglish, American

MeaningDarnella is a feminine form of Darnell, made by adding the -a ending. Darnell is an English surname, from a place name tied to 'darnel', a wild grass, or from a Norman French locale; as a first name it became popular in African American families, and Darnella extends it to girls.

U.S. rank (1996)#9796 ↘ Falling

1996 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1961

Total births (all-time)≈ 731

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

Darnella grew from Darnell, an English surname rooted in a place name connected with the darnel grass. As Darnell gained ground as a given name in the twentieth century, especially among African American families, the -a form Darnella followed for daughters.

The name stayed rare, reaching only a couple dozen girls a year at its high around 1961 before easing off. A woman named Darnella now would be of a grandmother's generation; the name remains a distinctive feminine take on a surname-name rather than a mainstream pick.

Did you know? Darnella simply adds an -a to Darnell, turning a surname long used for boys into a name for girls.

Overall data confidence 45%

References - Darnella — feminine of Darnell; English surname from darnel grass/place name

Variations

DarnelleDarnishaDarnetta

Nicknames

NellaDar

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Darnella…

Danella— a like -ella coined girl's name

Marcella— a similar three-beat -ella name

Darlene— a familiar Dar- name of the era

Floella— shares Darnella's English roots

Talula— a fellow American choice

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By themeenglish vintage american surname-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Darnella mean?

It is a feminine form of Darnell, an English surname, with the -a ending added.

How do you pronounce Darnella?

It's said dar-NEL-uh /dɑːrˈnɛlə/, three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Darnella a boy or girl name?

Darnella is used as a girl's name.

Is Darnella a popular name?

No, it has always been rare, a feminine form of Darnell used lightly around the mid-twentieth century.