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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Darling — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Darline|Darlington
English◈ Unisex · 48% boy · 52% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Darling

◈

DAR-ling · 2 syllables

Share Darling:
Compare with another name
Girl
#3339
↑↑ Surging
Girl
#3339
Popularity score: 18
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#3339 in 2024
5yr
+957 ranks
Velocity
+957
Birth frequency
1.3 per 100,000 births
Boy
#12689
Popularity score: 5
→ Stable
Peak
#12689 in 2024
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
1.4 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20192024

Rank #12689 · Falling since 2019

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Darling

Popularity score: 5  ·  SSA Rank: #12689

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #3339 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Darling

Popularity score: 18  ·  SSA Rank: #3339

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
84
Higher than 84% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+957 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
7 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class
Name DNA
EnglishUnisex2-syllableVintageWhimsicalTerm of endearmentRareRomanticPlayful
Character
affectionate warmthcharming gracebeloved kindnesstender devotion
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Darlings

artisticcreativeexperimentalindependentdistinctive
STRONG
High confidence

Darling is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #3339 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +957 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#3339 · very rare
Darling at a Glance
Meaning:A beloved or dear one; originally a term of endearment meaning cherished or favorite person.
Language root:Middle English · Old English
Peak rank:#3339 in 2024
5yr change:+957 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #3339 · Boy #12689
Notable bearers
Darling Naef
Swiss architect and furniture designer
Darling Stewart
Australian television presenter
Darling Buds
British band member and musician
Similar Sound
DarrenDariusDarcy◈DaphneDeacon
Similar Style
Archer◈Harper◈Presley◈Emery◈Avery◈
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Darling
IrisOlive◈Hazel◈EzraSilas◈RubyLeo
You Might Also Like
Archer◈
English · #5154
↓ Fading
Harper◈
English · #12
→ Stable
Presley◈
English · #224
→ Stable
Emery◈
Germanic · #70
→ Stable
Avery◈
English · #31
→ Stable
Evelyn
English · #8
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Darling · Overview
Summary

Darling is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #3339 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 19/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Darling scores 84/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 957 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
48% boy · 52% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Whimsical · Vintage · Romantic character
Darling carries a warm, playful, gentle quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Darling is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
darling.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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