Dairel
Dairel is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my light".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Dairel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dairel today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dairel births was 1938 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dairel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Dairel is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dairels were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dairel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1938
5 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1938 SSA rank
#3,633
Tracked since 1938
Popularity
Dairel: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Dairel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dairel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Dairel
The name Dairel is of uncertain origin, but it is believed to have its roots in the ancient Celtic languages spoken in parts of Europe, particularly in the British Isles and parts of modern-day France and Spain. The name itself does not appear to have a definitive translation or meaning, but it is thought to be derived from a combination of Celtic words related to nature and the elements.
One theory suggests that Dairel may be a variation of the Celtic name Doire, which means "oak tree" or "oak grove." This connection to the mighty oak tree could have held significant symbolic meaning for the ancient Celts, who revered nature and often incorporated elements of the natural world into their names and beliefs.
Another possibility is that Dairel is related to the Celtic word "dail," which can mean "meadow" or "field." This could indicate a connection to the fertile lands and agricultural traditions of the Celtic people.
While the exact origins of the name remain shrouded in mystery, there are a few notable historical figures who bore the name Dairel. One of the earliest recorded instances is Dairel of Conwy, a Welsh nobleman who lived in the 13th century and played a role in the conflicts between the Welsh and the English during the reign of King Edward I.
In the 15th century, there was a French scholar and theologian named Dairel d'Auvergne, who was known for his writings on religious philosophy and his contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time.
Moving forward to the 17th century, we find Dairel O'Neill, an Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the English during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.
In the 19th century, Dairel Buckley was a British explorer and adventurer who embarked on several expeditions to remote regions of Africa and Asia, documenting his travels and encounters with various cultures.
Lastly, in the early 20th century, Dairel Fitzwilliam was a renowned British architect who played a significant role in the design and construction of several notable buildings, including the Royal Opera House in London.
While the name Dairel may not be as common today as it once was, its roots in the ancient Celtic cultures and its appearances throughout history serve as a reminder of the rich tapestry of human diversity and the enduring legacies of our predecessors.
People
Dairel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dairel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dairel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dairel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dairel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Dairel a common name?
We classify Dairel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dairel most popular?
The single biggest year for Dairel was 1938, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dairel is about 71 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Dairel in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dairel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dairel in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Dairel still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dairel in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Dairel can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Dairel?
Find out how many people share the name Dairel on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.