Darwin
Meaningdear friend · Old English
- US rank
- #960
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #297 in 1938
241 babies were named Darwin in the US in 2025. It has dropped 55 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1881–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Darwin you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Darwin
Darwin Núñez
Uruguayan association football player
Choose Darwin and your child shares a first name with Darwin Núñez, an Uruguayan association football player. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Darwin, like who?” Darwin Núñez's Wikipedia article is available in 53 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Darwin Núñez on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 7,087 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Darwin, 241 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Darwin would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDarwin first shows up in US birth records in 1881, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 144 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1938, when it ranked #297. Today it's #960, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendDarwin has slipped 55 places over the last five years and now sits at #960. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedDarwin is most popular in Iowa, where it ranks #493, followed by Connecticut (#498) and Massachusetts (#507). It's in the top 1,000 in 15 states.
- MeaningIn Old English, Darwin means “dear friend”.
About the name Darwin
Darwin is a boy name of English origin meaning “dear friend”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with D and ending in “-win”. US birth records list Darwin for boys from 1881 to 2025, in 131 of those 145 years. Its best year was 1938, when it ranked #297 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #960, with 241 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 23 | 42,939 boys |
| 1890s | 17 | 58,207 boys |
| 1900s | 48 | 20,899 boys |
| 1910s | 133 | 7,528 boys |
| 1920s | 200 | 4,992 boys |
| 1930s | 286 | 3,495 boys |
| 1940s | 208 | 4,818 boys |
| 1950s | 172 | 5,801 boys |
| 1960s | 178 | 5,616 boys |
| 1970s | 82 | 12,192 boys |
| 1980s | 62 | 16,080 boys |
| 1990s | 66 | 15,078 boys |
| 2000s | 112 | 8,890 boys |
| 2010s | 138 | 7,260 boys |
| 2020s | 139 | 7,217 boys |
Other spellings of Darwin
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Darwin
What does the name Darwin mean?
Darwin means “dear friend” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Darwin?
Darwin has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Darwin a boy or girl name?
Darwin is a boy name.
How popular is the name Darwin?
Darwin ranked #960 for US boys in 2025, given to 241 babies. Its best year was 1938 (#297).