Darling
Meaningdear, beloved · English
- US rank
- #3,296
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2,974 in 1948
47 babies were named Darling in the US in 2025. It has climbed 709 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1920–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Darling you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 34,247 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Darling, 47 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Darling would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDarling first shows up in US birth records in 1920, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 105 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1948, when it reached #2,974.
- Then vs nowDarling is 4.1× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 138,889 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 34,247.
- TrendDarling has climbed 709 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #3,296. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn English, Darling means “dear, beloved”.
About the name Darling
Darling is a girl name of French origin meaning “dear, beloved”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with D and ending in “-ing”. US birth records list Darling for girls from 1920 to 2025, in 77 of those 106 years. Its best year was 1948, when it ranked #2,974 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #3,296, with 47 babies.
Origin:French names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1.7 | 588,235 girls |
| 1930s | 1.4 | 704,225 girls |
| 1940s | 2.2 | 462,963 girls |
| 1950s | 2.9 | 350,877 girls |
| 1960s | 3.9 | 258,398 girls |
| 1970s | 2.1 | 485,437 girls |
| 1980s | 6.1 | 163,666 girls |
| 1990s | 6.7 | 148,810 girls |
| 2000s | 8.2 | 121,655 girls |
| 2010s | 13 | 76,687 girls |
| 2020s | 22 | 45,802 girls |
More French girl names
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Violet · violet flower
- Girl name: Camila · temple attendant
- Girl name: Ellie · possibly light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Unisex name: Avery · elf counsel
- Girl name: Eloise · possibly healthy, wide
Questions about the name Darling
What does the name Darling mean?
Darling means “dear, beloved” in English.
What is the origin of the name Darling?
Darling has French roots in our records. Other French names include Charlotte, Evelyn, Violet.
Is Darling a boy or girl name?
Darling is a girl name.
How popular is the name Darling?
Darling ranked #3,296 for US girls in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1948 (#2,974).