Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Darby
GirlEnglish, Old Norse· “deer village”
- Meaning
- deer village
- Origin
- English, Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- DAR-bee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,564
- US babies 2025
- 68
- Best rank
- #499 (1995)
- Peak year
- 1995
Meaning and origin of Darby
Darby is an English and Old Norse name that means “deer village”.
Darby traces back to Old Norse djur, 'deer', and byr, 'farmstead' or 'village', the same roots behind the English town of Derby. It became an English and Irish surname before being used as a first name for both boys and girls. The phrase 'Darby and Joan', from an eighteenth-century English ballad, came to describe a devoted elderly married couple, giving the name a gently affectionate association. Today Darby has a spirited, slightly preppy charm. It fits alongside surname names like Harper and Sawyer while remaining much less common.
Popularity over time
Darby first appears in US Social Security records in 1936. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 9 different years, starting in 1994. Its best national rank was #499 in 1995, the same year it reached its highest count of 491 babies. In 2025, 68 babies were named Darby, and it ranked #2,564 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,362 in 1950, #2,104 in 1980, #866 in 2000, #1,483 in 2010, and #2,564 in 2025. Of the 8,338 US girls named Darby since records began, 31% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 1,948 babies. Since 2010, 1,600 more have been named Darby.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kadijah, Dalia, Alexandrea, Jocelyne, and Katarina.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Darby ranked highest in Ohio, Texas, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | #1513 | 5 |
| Texas | #2697 | 7 |
| California | #3210 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 81% of US babies named Darby over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Darby is usually pronounced DAR-bee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-by”.
Middle names for Darby
A few middle names that flow with Darby: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Darby
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Lists that include Darby
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Darby mean?
Darby is an English and Old Norse name that means “deer village”.
What is the origin of the name Darby?
Darby has English and Old Norse roots. Darby traces back to Old Norse djur, 'deer', and byr, 'farmstead' or 'village', the same roots behind the English town of Derby.
Is Darby a popular name?
Not especially. Darby ranked #2,564 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Darby a boy or girl name?
Darby is mainly a girl's name. About 81% of US babies named Darby over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Darby?
Darby is usually pronounced DAR-bee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings