Darius Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Darius is a name of Persian origin meaning 'possessor of good'. It evolved from the Old Persian 'Dārayavahus' through Latin and various European languages. The name is associated with historical figures, notably Persian kings, and has become popular in various cultures. It carries traits of strength and nobility, with no biblical relevance.
The name Darius is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Darius has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Darius' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1874th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1716th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 913th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 485th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 219th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 258th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 557th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9746th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7105th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17274th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Darius' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Darius"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛəriəs/
Origin
Persian
Etymology
The name Darius comes from the Old Persian name 'Dārayavahus', which means 'he who upholds good' or 'possessor of good'.
Meaning
Possessor of good
Language Evolution
Dārayavahus (Old Persian), Darius (Latin), Dario (Italian, Spanish), Dariusz (Polish)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity due to its association with several kings of Persia, particularly Darius I, who ruled from 522 to 486 BC and is known for his administrative reforms and building projects.
Variants & Derivatives
Dario, Dariusz, Darell
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, Darius is often perceived as a strong and noble name, retaining a sense of historical significance while also being considered modern and appealing.
Famous People
Darius I of Persia, Darius Rucker (musician), Darius Danesh (singer and actor)
Explore More Darius Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Darius"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Darius"
"Darius" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1874th of 7545 | 279 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1716th of 6773 | 319 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 913th of 7552 | 1,261 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 485th of 10718 | 4,448 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 219th of 16616 | 20,621 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 258th of 24088 | 20,585 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 557th of 23106 | 6,132 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9746th of 19264 | 49 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7105th of 27321 | 166 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 17274th of 35406 | 57 |
Regional Popularity of "Darius" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
91.55% 2166th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
85.68% 2016th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
31.70% 706th/2227 |
34.53% 839th/2430 |
36.28% 1035th/2853 |
35.39% 982nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
15.32% 450th/2937 |
14.44% 503rd/3483 |
12.02% 423rd/3518 |
16.15% 653rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.26% 194th/3685 |
6.77% 303rd/4475 |
2.85% 148th/5194 |
7.06% 446th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
5.91% 271st/4582 |
4.92% 254th/5164 |
2.86% 209th/7313 |
5.06% 378th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.55% 540th/3984 |
13.55% 608th/4487 |
7.37% 503rd/6822 |
10.09% 633rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Darius" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Darius"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Darius" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.