Darrain
Of Celtic origin, meaning "child of the oak king".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Darrain. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Darrain today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Darrain births was 1993 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Darrain. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Darrain. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1993
8 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1993 SSA rank
#6,335
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Darrain: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Darrain from the 1960s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 8 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darrain 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 Darrain during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Darrain
The given name Darrain has its origins rooted in the ancient Celtic language and culture. It emerged as a variant of the name Dáire, which was derived from the Old Irish word "dair," meaning oak tree. This connection to the majestic oak tree likely symbolized strength, resilience, and a deep connection to nature.
During the early medieval period, the name Darrain was predominantly found in Ireland and parts of Scotland, where the Celtic heritage and traditions were deeply ingrained. Variants of this name, such as Dáire and Dáirín, appeared in various Irish annals and historical records, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.
One of the earliest known references to the name Darrain can be found in the Book of Leinster, a 12th-century medieval Irish manuscript. This text contains a collection of historical and literary works, including tales and genealogies that mention individuals bearing this name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Darrain. One such figure was Dáire Dornmár, a legendary Irish king who ruled over the Kingdom of Oriel in the 5th century. Another was Saint Dáire, a 6th-century Irish monk and founder of the monastery at Derrynaflan, County Tipperary.
In the 9th century, Dáirín mac Nádfráich was a renowned Irish abbot and scholar who served as the head of the monastery at Iona, an important center of learning and spirituality in Scotland. His contributions to the preservation of knowledge and literature during this period were significant.
Moving forward in time, Dáire Mór mac Cellaigh was a prominent Irish king who ruled over the Kingdom of Ulster in the late 12th century. His reign was marked by conflicts with neighboring kingdoms and efforts to maintain territorial control.
Another notable figure was Dáire Mac Bruaidedha, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and leader of the Clan Mac Bruaidedha in County Roscommon. He played a role in the ongoing struggles between Irish clans and the English forces during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
These individuals, spanning various centuries and regions, exemplify the rich historical presence of the name Darrain within the Celtic and Irish cultural spheres. While its usage may have evolved over time, the name's origins remain firmly rooted in the ancient Celtic traditions and reverence for nature.
People
Darrain + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Darrain 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
Darrain: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Darrain?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Darrain 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Darrain a common name?
We classify Darrain as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Darrain most popular?
The single biggest year for Darrain was 1993, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Darrain is about 43 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 Darrain in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Darrain a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Darrain 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 Darrain still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Darrain 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 Darrain 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 common is the name Darrain?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Darrain on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.