The name Darius has its origins in the ancient Persian language and culture. It is derived from the Old Persian word "Dārayavahuš", which means "he who holds firm the good". This name was popular among the Achaemenid dynasty of Persia, which ruled from around 550 BC to 330 BC.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Darius was Darius the Great, also known as Darius I (550 BC - 486 BC). He was the third Persian king of the Achaemenid Empire and is known for his vast conquests and administrative reforms. Darius I is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, where he is referred to as the king who allowed the Jews to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

Another significant figure was Darius II (423 BC - 404 BC), who ruled as the king of the Achaemenid Empire from 423 BC until his death. He is known for his attempts to regain control over the territories that had been lost during the reign of his predecessor, Artaxerxes I.

In the 3rd century BC, Darius III (380 BC - 330 BC) was the last Persian king of the Achaemenid Empire. He was defeated by Alexander the Great in the Battle of Issus in 333 BC, marking the end of the Achaemenid dynasty.

During the Parthian Empire, which ruled in ancient Persia from 247 BC to 224 AD, the name Darius was still in use. One notable figure was Darius the Great (62 BC - 88 AD), who ruled as the king of the Parthian Empire from 77 AD to 88 AD.

In more recent history, Darius I of Persia (1766 - 1835) was the second shah of the Qajar dynasty in Iran. He ruled from 1794 to 1835 and is known for his efforts to modernize and centralize the Persian state.

These are just a few examples of the historical figures who bore the name Darius, which has been a prominent name in the Persian and Iranian cultures for centuries.