UK boy's name
Darek
Masculine variant of the Slavic name Derek, meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Darek is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Darek popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4647, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2009 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Darek. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Darek ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 boys were registered as Darek.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Darek as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4647
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Darek mean?
The name Darek is of Slavic origin, specifically from the Polish language. It is a diminutive form of the name Dariusz, which is derived from the Old Persian name Daryavahush, meaning "possessor of wealth" or "rich". The name Darek has been in use since the Middle Ages in Poland and other Slavic countries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darek can be found in a 14th-century Polish chronicle, where it was mentioned as the name of a nobleman from the region of Lesser Poland. During the Renaissance period, the name gained popularity among the Polish nobility and gentry.
In the 16th century, Darek Kołudzki (born around 1510 - died after 1570) was a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the wars against the Teutonic Knights and the Ottomans. He is known for his bravery and leadership during the Siege of Malbork in 1535.
Another notable figure from history with the name Darek is Darek Fidler (1688-1765), a Polish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets and celestial mechanics. He was a professor at the University of Krakow and a member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences.
In the 19th century, Darek Sienkiewicz (1846-1916) was a Polish writer and journalist who is best known for his novel "Quo Vadis". He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905 for his works depicting the struggles and triumphs of the Polish people.
Darek Michalski (1906-1985) was a Polish composer and conductor who was influential in the development of Polish contemporary music. He was a professor at the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and his compositions were performed internationally.
Darek Wójcik (born 1974) is a contemporary Polish football player who played as a defender for several clubs in Poland and Germany, including Legia Warsaw and Borussia Dortmund. He also represented the Polish national team and participated in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Darek over time
The chart below shows babies named Darek registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Darek, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darek by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Darek was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4647 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Darek
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Darek: questions and answers
How popular is the name Darek in the UK right now?
In 2011, Darek was ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Darek most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Darek in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Darek?
Masculine variant of the Slavic name Derek, meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".
How many people are called Darek in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Darek across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.