Fun Facts About the Name Darling
- More than 1 thousand babies named Darling: U.S. records list 1,060 babies given the name Darling from 1880 through 2025. Even 15 boys received the name Darling - about 1 boy for every 70 girls.
What Does the Name Darling Mean?
Darling is an English name meaning 'beloved one' or 'dear one.' It comes from Old English dēorling, a noun formed from dēore 'dear, beloved' and the suffix -ling, which forms nouns and often adds a diminutive or affectionate shade. In Middle English the word appears as derling, meaning a beloved person or favorite. The given name Darling can be understood as a word name or as a transferred use of the English and Scottish surname Darling, which comes from the same word. The literal sense is 'one who is dear,' and the customary modern sense is an affectionate term for a loved person.
Darling Name History & Origins
The word behind Darling goes back to Old English dēorling, a noun for a beloved or favorite person. It was formed from dēore 'dear, beloved' plus the suffix -ling. In Middle English the form derling continued as a common noun, and it also appears as a personal name. The English and Scottish surname Darling is usually derived from that Middle English personal name or nickname.
The surname Darling is familiar from the Darling family in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan (play, 1904; novel, 1911), but that is a literary use of an existing surname, not the origin of the name. As a given name, Darling is used as a word name or a transferred surname. Its history as a given name is less clearly documented than its history as a surname.
How Popular is the Name Darling?
Darling has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #3,002 in 1948.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,301 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 2024 | #3,339 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 2023 | #4,296 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 2022 | #5,680 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #4,746 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2020 | #4,028 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2019 | #4,940 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2018 | #6,078 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,216 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #5,177 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2015 | #6,081 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2014 | #4,802 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2013 | #5,534 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2012 | #6,936 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #6,200 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #7,293 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #7,428 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #7,840 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #6,385 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #6,652 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2005 | #9,036 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #7,488 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #8,649 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #6,785 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #8,910 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #7,684 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #11,673 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #8,743 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #7,387 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #6,477 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #5,733 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #6,402 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #8,212 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #7,640 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #6,330 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #6,553 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #7,091 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #5,391 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #10,141 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #6,259 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #7,740 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #5,988 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #6,832 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #4,992 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #5,324 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #8,356 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #8,237 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #6,633 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #8,710 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #7,487 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #7,256 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #4,783 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #5,750 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #7,002 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #4,565 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,259 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #4,146 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #5,423 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #4,329 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,475 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #4,601 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #4,613 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #6,141 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #5,335 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #5,912 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #5,176 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #5,588 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,677 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #3,002 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #3,774 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #4,544 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1937 | #4,389 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1936 | #4,327 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #4,463 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #3,751 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #4,546 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,055 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #12,689 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #12,582 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1932 | #3,896 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Darling
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with D
How the Name Darling Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Darling's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Darling's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.