Darren Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Darren is believed to have Irish origins, meaning 'oak tree'. It evolved from the Gaelic surname Ó Daireáin and gained popularity in the mid-20th century. The name is associated with traits of friendliness and approachability, and it has no direct biblical relevance.
The name Darren is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Darren has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Darren' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4615th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 284th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 100th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 201st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 345th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 655th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5557th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3405th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7428th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 27734th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Darren' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Darren"
Pronunciation
/ˈdærən/
Origin
Uncertain, possibly Irish
Etymology
The name Darren is thought to have originated from the Gaelic surname Ó Daireáin, which means 'descendant of Daireán'. Daireán itself is derived from the word 'doire', meaning 'oak tree'.
Meaning
oak tree
Language Evolution
Daireán, Ó Daireáin, Darren
Historical Usage
The name Darren became popular in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, especially in the United States during the 1960s.
Variants & Derivatives
Darrin, Darrel, Darell
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Darren is perceived as a classic name that evokes a sense of friendliness and approachability. It remains popular but is less common among the newer generations.
Famous People
Darren Criss, Darren Aronofsky, Darren Fletcher
Explore More Darren Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Darren"
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 "Darren"
"Darren" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4615th of 6773 | 34 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 284th of 7552 | 12,717 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 100th of 10718 | 48,511 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 201st of 16616 | 23,609 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 345th of 24088 | 14,039 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 655th of 23106 | 4,841 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5557th of 12526 | 91 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3405th of 19264 | 310 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7428th of 27321 | 156 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 27734th of 30306 | 7 |
Regional Popularity of "Darren" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
11.50% 256th/2227 |
10.12% 246th/2430 |
12.76% 364th/2853 |
8.07% 224th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.17% 93rd/2937 |
2.58% 90th/3483 |
3.44% 121st/3518 |
2.15% 87th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.75% 175th/3685 |
3.49% 156th/4475 |
3.99% 207th/5194 |
3.32% 210th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
7.84% 359th/4582 |
4.90% 253rd/5164 |
5.07% 371st/7313 |
4.50% 336th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
18.52% 738th/3984 |
12.15% 545th/4487 |
10.52% 718th/6822 |
9.45% 593rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Darren" 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) |
- |
76.20% 2654th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Darren"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Darren" 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.