UK boy's name
Darien
Of Persian origin, meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Darien is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Darien popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 23 births.
This profile covers 140 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 139 living people in the UK are called Darien. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Darien ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 23 boys were registered as Darien.
- • About 139 living people in the UK are estimated to have Darien as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
23 births
Estimated living
139
2026
Meaning
What does Darien mean?
The given name Darien has its roots in the Persian language, originating from the word "dara" which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." This name can be traced back to ancient Persia, present-day Iran, during the Achaemenid Empire period between 550-330 BC.
The name Darien gained prominence in the ancient world due to its association with Darius the Great, one of the most influential rulers of the Achaemenid Empire. Darius I, who reigned from 522-486 BC, was responsible for expanding the Persian Empire to its greatest extent, stretching from the Indus River in the east to parts of Greece in the west.
In the biblical Book of Nehemiah, which is part of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, there is a reference to a person named Darius. This Darius is believed to be Darius II, who ruled the Persian Empire from 423-404 BC. The name is also mentioned in other ancient texts, including the works of Greek historians such as Herodotus and Xenophon.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Darien can be found in the 5th century BC, with Darius III, the last king of the Achaemenid Empire. He was defeated by Alexander the Great in 330 BC, marking the end of the Persian Empire.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Darien. These include:
1. Darius I (550-486 BC), the famous Persian king mentioned earlier. 2. Darius II (423-404 BC), a Persian king referenced in the Book of Nehemiah. 3. Darius III (380-330 BC), the last king of the Achaemenid Empire. 4. Darius the Persian, a character in the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). 5. Darius Milhaud (1892-1974), a French composer and teacher, known for his innovative use of jazz elements in classical music.
The name Darien has continued to be used across various cultures and regions, albeit with variations in spelling and pronunciation. Its Persian origins and historical associations with influential figures have contributed to its enduring popularity as a given name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Darien over time
The chart below shows babies named Darien registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Darien, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darien by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Darien 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3599 | 22 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3680 | 33 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2521 | 36 | 7 |
| 1990s | #1340 | 49 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Darien
- 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
Darien: questions and answers
How popular is the name Darien in the UK right now?
In 2023, Darien was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Darien most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 23 babies registered as Darien in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Darien?
Of Persian origin, meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".
How many people are called Darien in the UK?
A total of 140 babies have been registered as Darien across the 22 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.