Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Daryl

Daryl

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAR-ihl /ˈdæɹ.ɪl/Medium

Meaning: From the surname Darrell, from Norman French d'Airelle '(one) from Airelle'Medium

In 30 seconds: Daryl is an English boy's name from the surname Darrell, itself from Norman French d'Airelle, meaning 'one from Airelle'. It began as a place-based family name.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish, Norman French
MeaningFrom the surname Darrell, from Norman French d'Airelle '(one) from Airelle'
U.S. rank (2025)#1529 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births113 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1956
Total births (all-time)≈ 63,053

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195619122025

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

Daryl descends from the surname Darrell, which the Normans brought from the French place name Airelle — d'Airelle simply marked someone as being from there. Over time the surname became a first name, and several spellings settled alongside it, including Darrell, Darryl, and Darrel. The meaning is geographic rather than descriptive.

The name has notable bearers across entertainment, including actress and filmmaker Daryl Hannah and singer-songwriter Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, which has kept it familiar to American audiences.

Did you know? Daryl is a spelling variant of Darrell, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'origin uncertain' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Daryl — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

DarellDarielDarrelDarrellDarryl

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Daryl Hannah (1960–present)
    American actress and filmmaker, known for roles in major motion pictures and television.
  • ★Daryl Hall (1946–present)
    American singer-songwriter and co-founder of the duo Hall & Oates.

If you like Daryl…

Darrell— The parent surname Daryl was drawn from, same Norman French origin.
Darryl— A direct spelling variant of the same name listed in its variations.
Dariel— A related variant form sharing the 'Dar' opening and origin.
Denzel— a fellow English choice
Draven— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Daryl

By themeenglish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Daryl mean?

Daryl is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Daryl?

It's commonly said DAR-ihl /ˈdæɹ.ɪl/.

Is Daryl a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Daryl is used as a boy name.

How popular is Daryl?

In 2024, Daryl ranked #1995 in the U.S. for boys, with 77 births recorded.

💬 Ask Nia