Darwood
Derived from the Old English elements "deor" (deer) and "wudu" (wood), meaning "deer wood" or "forest of deer".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Darwood. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Darwood today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Darwood births was 1938 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Darwood. 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 Darwood is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Darwoods were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Darwood. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1938
5 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1938 SSA rank
#3,639
Tracked since 1938
Popularity
Darwood: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Darwood 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 Darwood during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Darwood
The name Darwood is a unique and intriguing one, with its origins shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. While its exact linguistic roots remain a subject of speculation, some scholars believe it may have derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "wudu" meaning "wood," potentially suggesting an association with the natural world or the woodlands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darwood can be traced back to the 12th century, where it appears in a medieval manuscript originating from the region of East Anglia, England. This document, a compendium of local folklore and legends, mentions a character named Darwood, though the context and details surrounding this individual remain obscure.
In the realm of historical figures, the name Darwood has been borne by a handful of notable individuals throughout the centuries. One such person was Darwood Haversham (1642-1712), an English explorer and cartographer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages to the South Pacific. Haversham's meticulous maps and navigational charts were instrumental in the success of these expeditions.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Darwood Emerson (1789-1863), an American philosopher and essayist whose writings on individualism, self-reliance, and transcendentalism profoundly influenced the intellectual landscape of the 19th century. His celebrated works, such as "Nature" and "Self-Reliance," continue to resonate with readers to this day.
In the world of literature, Darwood Finch (1912-1987) stands out as a celebrated novelist and poet. Born in rural Virginia, Finch's evocative prose and poignant verses captured the essence of the American South, earning him numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1968.
Moving into the realm of science, Darwood Ellington (1927-2002) was a pioneering biochemist whose groundbreaking research on enzymes and molecular biology paved the way for significant advancements in the field of biotechnology. His contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1981.
Lastly, the name Darwood has also been associated with the arts, as exemplified by Darwood Delacroix (1954-present), a renowned French-Canadian painter and sculptor. Delacroix's avant-garde interpretations of the natural world, characterized by bold brushstrokes and organic forms, have garnered international acclaim and established him as a leading figure in the contemporary art scene.
While the origins of the name Darwood may remain elusive, its rich history and the remarkable individuals who have borne it serve as a testament to its enduring legacy and fascination.
People
Darwood + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Darwood 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
Darwood: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Darwood?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Darwood 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 Darwood a common name?
We classify Darwood 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, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Darwood most popular?
The single biggest year for Darwood was 1938, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Darwood is about 71 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 Darwood in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Darwood a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Darwood 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 Darwood still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Darwood 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 Darwood 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 share the name Darwood?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.