Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Dario
BoyItalian, Spanish· “holding firm the good”
- Meaning
- holding firm the good
- Origin
- Italian, Spanish
- Pronunciation
- DAH-ree-oh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #760
- US babies 2025
- 339
- Best rank
- #639 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Dario
Dario is an Italian and Spanish name that is usually said to mean “holding firm the good”.
Dario is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Darius, from the Old Persian Darayavahush, usually explained as he who holds firm the good. Darius the Great was one of the most powerful kings of the Persian Empire, and the name passed into Europe through Greek and Latin writers. The Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, a founder of the Modernismo movement, made the name especially admired in the Spanish-speaking world, though for him it was a surname. Dario is warm and stylish, with a Mediterranean flair.
Popularity over time
Dario first appears in US Social Security records in 1909. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 53 different years, starting in 1965. Its best national rank was #639 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 439 babies. In 2025, 339 babies were named Dario, and it ranked #760 nationally. That is 45% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,657 in 1920, #1,371 in 1950, #770 in 1980, #806 in 2000, #946 in 2010, and #760 in 2025. Of the 11,945 US boys named Dario since records began, 19% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 2,263 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Mylo, Kasai, Zayd, Amias, and Lochlan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dario ranked highest in New Mexico, California, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #377 | 5 |
| California | #392 | 84 |
| Illinois | #459 | 23 |
| Texas | #463 | 72 |
| Nevada | #529 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Dario is usually pronounced DAH-ree-oh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-io”.
Middle names for Dario
A few middle names that flow with Dario: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dario
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Lists that include Dario
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dario mean?
Dario is an Italian and Spanish name that is usually said to mean “holding firm the good”.
What is the origin of the name Dario?
Dario has Italian, Spanish, and Persian roots. Dario is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Darius, from the Old Persian Darayavahush, usually explained as he who holds firm the good.
Is Dario a popular name?
Yes. Dario ranked #760 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Dario a boy or girl name?
Dario is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Dario?
Dario is usually pronounced DAH-ree-oh. 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