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Durell
How to Pronounce Durell
Pronounced duh-REL /dəˈrɛl/Medium
Meaning: Durell is a first-name use of the Norman-English surname Durrell, itself from Old French 'durel', a nickname from 'dur' ('hard, tough'), so the sense is steadfast or unyielding. It entered given-name use for boys well into the twentieth century.Medium
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
As a given name, Durell traces to the Norman surname Durrell, from Old French dur, 'hard' -- the idea of someone tough and enduring. It rose slowly across the century and reached its high point in the mid-eighties, riding the same wave that lifted Darell, Terrell and Tyrell.
A boy named Durell at its 1985 peak is now approaching forty. The name reads as a warm-sounding cousin of the -ell surnames that were fashionable for boys in Black American families of the era, and it has stayed uncommon rather than dated.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Durell mean?
Durell comes from the Norman surname Durrell, from Old French 'dur' ('hard'), suggesting someone steadfast.
How do you pronounce Durell?
It's said duh-REL /dəˈrɛl/ -- two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Durell a boy or girl name?
Durell is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Durell?
Durell was an uncommon boys' pick that crested in the mid-eighties and has stayed quiet since.