UK boy's name
Darren
A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "great, favored, or renowned".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Darren is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Darren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1108, with 26 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 343 births.
This profile covers 3,041 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 12,150 living people in the UK are called Darren. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Darren ranked #1108 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 26 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 343 boys were registered as Darren.
- • Darren ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.
- • About 12,150 living people in the UK are estimated to have Darren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1108
2024
Births in 2024
26
Latest year
Peak year
1996
343 births
Estimated living
12,150
2026
Meaning
What does Darren mean?
The name Darren is of Celtic origin, specifically derived from the Irish Gaelic word 'dara' which means 'fertile' or 'fruitful'. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Ireland and Scotland, where it was commonly used as a first name for boys born into farming communities.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Darren was particularly popular among the Gaelic-speaking populations of Ireland and Scotland. It was often associated with prosperity and abundance, reflecting the agricultural heritage of these regions. While the name does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it was widely used within these Celtic cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darren can be found in Irish genealogical records from the 12th century. The first notable individual bearing this name was Darren O'Loughlin, an Irish chieftain who lived in the late 12th century and played a significant role in the struggles against Norman invaders in Ireland.
In the 16th century, Darren MacLean was a Scottish poet and translator, renowned for his works in both Gaelic and English. His birth and death dates are unknown, but he is believed to have lived during the reign of King James VI of Scotland.
Another historical figure with the name Darren was Darren O'Sullivan, an Irish rebel leader who participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 against English rule. He was born around 1610 and was ultimately executed for his involvement in the uprising.
In the 19th century, Darren O'Malley was an Irish scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the preservation of the Irish language and culture. He was born in 1830 and dedicated his life to documenting and teaching the Gaelic language.
Darren O'Brien, born in 1888, was an Irish politician and activist who played a prominent role in the Irish independence movement. He served as a member of the Irish Republican Army and later became a member of the Irish Parliament.
While the name Darren has maintained its Celtic roots, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its historical significance and cultural origins remain deeply rooted in the Celtic nations of Ireland and Scotland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Darren over time
The chart below shows babies named Darren registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Darren, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 26 births in 2024, compared with 343 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darren by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Darren 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 | #1151 | 122 | 5 |
| 2010s | #732 | 515 | 10 |
| 2000s | #270 | 1,319 | 10 |
| 1990s | #146 | 1,085 | 4 |
Geography
Where Darren is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Darren. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Darren ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.
Across the UK
Darren in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#535 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 8,908 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#404 in 2024
24 years of NISRA records, 455 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Darren
-
Darren Watson
association football player
football player
2003-
-
Darren Walsh
animator; television director
British animation director
2000-
-
Darren Waters
rugby union player
rugby player
1985-
-
Darren Burridge
stunt performer; professional wrestler
British professional wrestler
1981-
-
Darren Wright
association football player
Footballer (born 1979)
1979-
-
Darren Way
association football player
English footballer (born 1979)
1979-
-
Darren Young
association football coach; association football player
Scottish footballer (born 1978)
1978-
-
Darren Ward
association football player
English footballer (born 1978)
1978-
Related
Names similar to Darren
- 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
Darren: questions and answers
How popular is the name Darren in the UK right now?
In 2024, Darren was ranked #1108 for boys in England and Wales, with 26 births registered.
When was Darren most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 343 babies registered as Darren in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Darren?
A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "great, favored, or renowned".
How many people are called Darren in the UK?
A total of 3,041 babies have been registered as Darren across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8,908 more in Scotland and 455 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Darren most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Darren ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #404 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.