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Name Lineage

    The first name Darby

    A unisex name from Norse meaning “deer”, “settlement”.

    Pronounced /ˈdɑːbi/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Norse origin

    Darby means “deer”, “settlement” in Norse.

    From the English place name Derby, from Old Norse djúr (“deer”) + býr (“settlement”).

    More names that mean deer.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 8 girls were named Darby, making it the 3,035th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 18 births (#1,628).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    319
    babies named Darby, 1996–2025
    #3,035
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Darby with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Darby at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 68 girls born in the United States were named Darby, the 2,564th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1995, when 491 were.

    0250500 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    11,278
    babies named Darby since 1880
    #2,564
    rank in 2025
    1995
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Darby

    6 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Darby Stanchfield
      American actress, born 1971
    • Darby Camp
      American actress, born 2007
    • Darby Crash
      American musician (1958–1980)
    • Darby Hinton
      Actor, born 1957
    • Darby Hendrickson
      American ice hockey player, born 1972
    • Darby Lloyd Rains
      American pornographic actress, born 1947

    More Norse unisex names

    All 32 names of Norse origin

    Questions

    What does the name Darby mean?
    Darby means “deer”, “settlement” in Norse.
    What is the origin of the name Darby?
    From the English place name Derby, from Old Norse djúr (“deer”) + býr (“settlement”).
    How popular is the name Darby?
    In 2025, 8 girls born in England and Wales were named Darby, ranking 3,035th. Its peak was 2021, with 18 births.
    Is Darby a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 11,278 US babies named Darby since 1880, 74% were girls and 26% boys.
    When was Darby most popular?
    1995 in the United States, when 491 babies were named Darby, its highest rank at 499th.
    How do you pronounce Darby?
    Darby is /ˈdɑːbi/, 2 syllables.
    Is Darby also a surname?
    Yes. Darby is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.