Darnelle
Every Darnelle since 1943 — 616 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Darnelle
Darnelle is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #12,460 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1943, 616 American babies have been named Darnelle — about 60% boys and 40% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1984, when 28 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Darnelle stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Darnelle year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 5 | #12,460 |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | 5 | #12,759 |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | 7 | #9,904 |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | 6 | #11,370 |
| 2007 | — | — | 7 | #9,995 |
| 2006 | — | — | 8 | #8,895 |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | 5 | #11,739 |
| 2003 | — | — | 7 | #8,865 |
| 2002 | — | — | 9 | #7,165 |
| 2001 | — | — | 6 | #9,525 |
| 2000 | — | — | 7 | #8,392 |
| 1995 | — | — | 16 | #3,901 |
| 1990 | — | — | 19 | #3,197 |
| 1985 | 6 | #9,583 | 8 | #4,796 |
| 1980 | 5 | #10,755 | 14 | #3,135 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | 8 | #5,936 | — | — |
| 1965 | 8 | #4,925 | — | — |
| 1960 | 10 | #4,239 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | 11 | #3,264 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Darnelle in 2025?
Darnelle ranked #12,460 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Darnelle?
616 babies have been named Darnelle in the United States since 1943, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Darnelle most popular?
Darnelle peaked in 1984, when 28 newborns received the name.
Is Darnelle a boy or girl name?
Darnelle is used for both: about 40% of babies named Darnelle have been girls and 60% boys.
Is the name Darnelle rising or falling?
Darnelle is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.