NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Darnell

A masculine name of French origin meaning "small valley".

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.

Darnell is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Darnell popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 76 births.

This profile covers 666 England and Wales registrations across 28 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 4% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 659 living people in the UK are called Darnell. 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

  • Darnell ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 76 boys were registered as Darnell.
  • About 659 living people in the UK are estimated to have Darnell as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

76 births

Estimated living

659

2026

Meaning

What does Darnell mean?

The given name Darnell has its origins in the Old French language, stemming from the word "arne," which means "eagle." It likely emerged as a surname during the Middle Ages, potentially referring to individuals with eagle-like qualities or those who worked with these majestic birds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darnell can be traced back to the 12th century in France. It appeared in various historical documents and records from that era, indicating its use as a personal name during that time period.

While the name Darnell does not have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it shares linguistic roots with other names derived from words associated with birds, such as Arnaud and Arnold, which also stem from the Old French "arne."

Among the notable individuals who bore the name Darnell throughout history, we can mention:

1. Darnell Williams (1924-2005), an American actor and singer best known for his roles in numerous Broadway productions and television shows.

2. Darnell Autry (1914-1991), an American actor and stuntman who appeared in several Western films during the 1930s and 1940s.

3. Darnell Rock (born 1980), an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and various international leagues.

4. Darnell Hillman (1943-2018), an American jazz bassist and composer who performed with numerous renowned musicians throughout his career.

5. Darnell Nurse (born 1995), a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL.

These individuals hailed from diverse backgrounds and professions, yet they all shared the distinctive name Darnell, which has its roots in the Old French language and was likely used to describe individuals with eagle-like qualities or those associated with these magnificent birds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Darnell over time

The chart below shows babies named Darnell 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 Darnell, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 76 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Darnell
019385776199620092023

Decades

Darnell by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Darnell 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 #4597 13 4
2010s #2837 89 10
2000s #887 325 10
1990s #398 239 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Darnell

  • Darnell Johnson

    association football player

    English association football player (born 1998)

    1998-

  • Darnell McIntosh

    rugby league player

    English rugby league footballer

    1997-

  • Darnell Furlong

    association football player

    English association football player

    1995-

  • Darnell Williams

    actor; film director; television actor

    British-born actor (born 1955)

    1955-

Related

Names similar to Darnell

FAQ

Darnell: questions and answers

How popular is the name Darnell in the UK right now?

In 2023, Darnell was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Darnell most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 76 babies registered as Darnell in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Darnell?

A masculine name of French origin meaning "small valley".

How many people are called Darnell in the UK?

A total of 666 babies have been registered as Darnell across the 28 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.