Durl
An English masculine name derived from "dour" and likely meaning "stern, sullen".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Durl. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Durl today is around 85 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Durl births was 1926 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Durl. 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 Durl is about 85 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Durls were born before 1951.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Durl. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1926
9 babies that year
Average age
85
years old
1949 SSA rank
#3,834
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Durl: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Durl from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 19 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Durl remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Durl 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 Durl 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 Durl
The name Durl is an uncommon first name with origins dating back to the early 19th century. Its roots can be traced to the Old English words "dyre" meaning "dear" or "beloved," and "eal" meaning "all." Thus, the name Durl could be interpreted as "entirely beloved" or "completely dear."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Durl appears in the 1820 census records of Virginia, where a man named Durl Wilkins was listed as a farmer. In 1828, a Durl Higginbotham was born in North Carolina, though little is known about his life.
In the mid-19th century, a notable figure named Durl Stephens (1833-1912) emerged as a prominent minister and abolitionist in Illinois. He was an influential advocate for the abolition of slavery and worked tirelessly to promote civil rights for African Americans.
Another individual with the name Durl was Durl Van Vleet (1857-1935), a respected banker and businessman from Indiana. He played a significant role in the economic development of his local community and was known for his philanthropic endeavors.
Towards the end of the 19th century, Durl J. Hayne (1876-1948) made a name for himself as a successful attorney and judge in Texas. He served on the bench for several years and was highly regarded for his fair and impartial rulings.
In the early 20th century, Durl Hubbard (1901-1982) gained recognition as a talented artist and sculptor. His works were exhibited in various galleries across the United States, and he is particularly known for his intricate wood carvings depicting scenes from nature.
While the name Durl is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who made significant contributions to their respective fields and communities throughout the centuries.
People
Durl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Durl 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
Durl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Durl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Durl 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Durl a common name?
We classify Durl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 35 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Durl most popular?
The single biggest year for Durl was 1926, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Durl is about 85 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Durl a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Durl 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.
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.