Darlah
A feminine Arabic name of uncertain meaning, possibly related to "darr" meaning "pearl".
Name Census estimates that about 59 living Americans carry the first name Darlah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Darlah today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Darlah births was 2012 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Darlah. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Darlah with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Darlah. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
59
~ 1 in 5,809,396 Americans
Peak year
2012
11 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2023 SSA rank
#15,744
Tracked since 1956
Popularity
Darlah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Darlah from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 35 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Darlah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darlah 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 Darlah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Darlahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Darlah
The name Darlah is a unique and intriguing one, with a rich history that spans across cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language, where it is believed to have derived from the word "darla," which means "precious gem" or "jewel." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were considered exceptionally valuable or precious within their communities.
During the medieval era, the name Darlah gained prominence in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in regions influenced by Persian and Arabic cultures. It was often associated with individuals of high social standing or those who possessed exceptional beauty or talents. In some Islamic texts, there are references to Darlah as a name bestowed upon women who were renowned for their wisdom and eloquence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darlah can be found in the writings of the 10th-century Persian poet and scholar, Abū al-Qāsim Firdawsī. In his epic masterpiece, the Shahnameh, he mentions a character named Darlah, who was described as a brave and intelligent warrior. This literary reference provides a glimpse into the cultural significance and esteem associated with the name during that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Darlah. One such figure was Darlah bint Zayd (c. 670 CE - 735 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived during the Umayyad Caliphate. She was highly respected for her vast knowledge of Islamic law and is credited with contributing to the development of legal principles within the Islamic tradition.
Another prominent figure was Darlah al-Baghdadi (c. 1120 CE - 1190 CE), a renowned poet and philosopher who hailed from the city of Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate. Her works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, gained widespread acclaim and influence across the region.
In the realm of arts and culture, Darlah al-Andalusi (c. 1250 CE - 1310 CE) was a celebrated Andalusian musician and composer who played a significant role in the development of classical Arabic music. Her compositions and performances were highly regarded and appreciated by both scholars and commoners alike.
During the Ottoman Empire, a notable figure named Darlah Khanum (c. 1550 CE - 1620 CE) gained recognition as a skilled calligrapher and painter. Her intricate and beautiful works adorned the walls of numerous mosques and palaces, cementing her legacy as a master of her craft.
While the name Darlah may not be as widely used in modern times, its rich historical significance and cultural associations have endured, serving as a testament to the enduring power and beauty of names that have transcended time and borders.
People
Darlah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Darlah 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
Darlah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Darlah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 59 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Darlah 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 5,809,396 US residents.
Is Darlah a common name?
We classify Darlah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 56.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 62 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Darlah most popular?
The single biggest year for Darlah was 2012, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Darlah is about 18 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 Darlah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Darlah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Darlah in the SSA data are female. 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 Darlah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Darlah 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 Darlah 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 have Darlah as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.