Darnell is an English given name of African American origin. It is a combination of the names Darwin and Nelson. The name Darwin is derived from the Middle English word "darwin," which means "dear" or "beloved." The name Nelson comes from the Old English words "nihel" meaning "hale" or "strong" and "land" meaning "land."
The name Darnell was popularized in the United States during the 1970s. It gained prominence among African American communities, with notable figures such as musician Darnell "Diggy" Howard and actor Darnell Williams (known for his role on the soap opera All My Children) bearing the name.
While there is no specific historical figure associated with the name Darnell, it is believed to have been adopted by families who wanted to give their children unique and distinctive names. Today, Darnell remains a popular choice among parents looking for a strong, memorable name for their sons.
In summary, the name Darnell has African American origins and combines elements of the names Darwin and Nelson. Its meaning is associated with concepts such as "dear," "beloved," "strong," and "land." Despite not having a specific historical figure attached to it, Darnell has become a popular choice among parents seeking unique and distinctive names for their children.
Based on the statistical data provided, we can observe several trends regarding the given name Darnell in the United States from 1912 to 2023.
Firstly, it's clear that the popularity of the name Darnell has fluctuated significantly over the century. The lowest point was in 1912 with only 9 births recorded. This number remained relatively low until the late 1940s when there were around 50-70 births annually.
The name's popularity began to rise significantly in the mid-1950s, reaching its peak between 1968 and 1970 with over 400 births each year. The highest number of births recorded during this period was in 1970 with 484 babies named Darnell.
However, after this peak, the popularity of the name started to decline gradually. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were around 650-750 births each year. This trend continued into the new millennium, with fewer than 300 births annually from 2000 onwards.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Darnell has continued to decline. Between 2015 and 2023, there were less than 150 births each year, with a total of only 85 births recorded in 2023. This represents a significant decrease from the height of its popularity.
In conclusion, while Darnell was a relatively popular name during the mid to late 20th century, its popularity has declined significantly in recent decades. Despite this decline, it's clear that over the past century, thousands of babies have been named Darnell in the United States alone, with a total of 28,515 births recorded since 1912.