Darthula
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially related to the Darth element from Star Wars.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Darthula. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Darthula today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Darthula births was 1920 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Darthula. 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 Darthula is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Darthulas were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Darthula. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1920
8 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1934 SSA rank
#3,528
Tracked since 1884
Popularity
Darthula: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Darthula from the 1880s through to the 1930s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 21 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Darthula remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darthula 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 Darthula 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 Darthula
The name Darthula is believed to have its origins in ancient Celtic cultures, tracing back to around the 5th or 6th century AD. It is derived from the Proto-Celtic words "dàr" meaning "oak" and "ula" meaning "noble" or "high-born". Thus, the name Darthula can be interpreted as "noble oak" or "high-born oak".
In early medieval Ireland and Scotland, the name Darthula was associated with strength, resilience, and a connection to nature. It was often given to children born into influential families or clans, particularly those with ties to the ancient druids or spiritual leaders.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Darthula can be found in the epic tale "The Cattle Raid of Cooley" (Tain Bo Cuailnge), a legendary prose from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In this tale, Darthula is the name of a warrior princess known for her bravery and skill in battle.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Darthula was relatively uncommon, but it did appear in various chronicles and historical records. One notable figure was Darthula of Leinster (c. 965-1022), a Irish noblewoman and influential political figure during the Viking Age. She played a crucial role in negotiating peace treaties and alliances between rival clans.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Darthula MacAlpin (c. 1150-1216), a Scottish chieftain's daughter who became renowned for her expertise in herbal medicine and healing arts. She was widely respected and sought after for her knowledge of traditional Celtic remedies.
In the 16th century, Darthula O'Neill (c. 1530-1598) was a legendary Irish warrior and leader who fought against English colonial forces during the Nine Years' War. She gained fame for her tactical brilliance and unwavering courage in battle.
The name Darthula also appeared in various works of literature and poetry throughout the centuries, often associated with themes of strength, resilience, and a deep connection to nature and Celtic heritage.
People
Darthula + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Darthula 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
Darthula: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Darthula?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Darthula 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 Darthula a common name?
We classify Darthula 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, 64 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Darthula most popular?
The single biggest year for Darthula was 1920, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Darthula is about 81 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 Darthula in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Darthula a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Darthula 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 Darthula still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Darthula 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 Darthula 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 the name Darthula?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people share the name Darthula at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.