Given name
Darryl
“one who is greatly loved”·“one who is dearly loved”
Darryl is a variant of Daryl. One English interpretation is “one who is greatly loved.” Darryl is a variant of Darrel. One English interpretation is “one who is dearly loved.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Darryl is a variant of Daryl. One English interpretation is “one who is greatly loved.” Darryl is a variant of Darrel. One English interpretation is “one who is dearly loved.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Darryl is a variant of Daryl. An origin associated with Daryl is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Darryl has a related form in Darrell. The history of Darrell gives this family its wider story. Darrell’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Darryl through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 93,419
- 92,285 boys · 1,134 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 5,178 babies
- 2025
- 69
- #2,115 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −36%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 69 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,115 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 35.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 5,134 in 1961. In 2025, North Carolina and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 65,344 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Darryl’s family of names
In English usage, Darryl has a nickname in DAZZA. In English usage, Darryl has a related form in Darrell. Darryl has a related form in Daryl.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Darryl
- Darryl F. ZanuckAmerican film producer (1902–1979)
- Darryl JonesAmerican bassistborn 1961
- Lil ScrappyAmerican rapper from Georgiaborn 1984
- Darryl HickmanAmerican actor1931–2024
- Darryl PowellJamaican footballer (born 1971)
- Darryl McDanielsAmerican rapperborn 1964
- Darryl DawkinsAmerican basketball player-coach1957–2015
- Darryl SittlerCanadian ice hockey playerborn 1950
- Darryl MiddletonAmerican/Spanish basketball player and coachborn 1966
Characters named Darryl: Darryl Morris (Charmed).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Darryl, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Darvin
“a beloved friend”
>99% boys
Darrin
“a great man” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Darin
“a great man” · “a gift from God”
99% boys · 1% girls
Daren
“one who is born at night”
>99% boys
Darwin
“a beloved friend”
99% boys · 1% girls
Daron
“the great one” · “from a small rocky hill”
>99% boys
Darren
“a great man” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Dave
“Beloved” · “darling”
>99% boys