Find out how popular the first name Darryl has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Darryl by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Darryl is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Darryl being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 89 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Darryl.

The history of the first name Darryl

The given name Darryl is an English masculine name that emerged in the late 19th century. It is believed to have originated as a variant or diminutive form of the name Darrell, which itself is derived from the Old French name Derle or Derulle.

These Old French names traced their roots back to the Germanic name Theoderic, which was composed of the elements "theud" meaning "people" and "ric" meaning "ruler" or "powerful". This name eventually evolved into various forms across different European languages, such as Derrick, Diedrich, and Derrell.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Darryl dates back to the late 1800s in England. One of the earliest notable individuals with this name was Darryl F. Zanuck, an American film producer and executive who lived from 1902 to 1979. He was a prominent figure in the early years of the Hollywood film industry and co-founded 20th Century Pictures, later becoming the head of 20th Century Fox.

Another historical figure named Darryl was Darryl Stingley, an American professional football player who played as a wide receiver for the New England Patriots in the 1970s. Tragically, he was paralyzed in a game against the Oakland Raiders in 1978, an incident that brought attention to the need for improved safety measures in the sport.

In the world of music, Darryl Hall is a well-known American singer, songwriter, and musician who found fame as one half of the duo Hall & Oates. Born in 1946, he has had a successful career spanning several decades and is known for hits such as "Rich Girl" and "Maneater".

Darryl Dawkins, an American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1975 to 1989, was also a notable figure with this name. He was known for his powerful dunks and his eccentric persona, often giving his dunks nicknames like "The Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robinzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham Bam I Am Jam."

Lastly, Darryl Sittler was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1970 to 1982. He set an NHL record in 1976 by scoring 10 points (6 goals and 4 assists) in a single game against the Boston Bruins, a feat that has yet to be surpassed.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Darryl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Darryl, please contact us.

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