Daryl is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It has gained popularity in recent years, particularly since the 2010s, due to its use in popular culture, such as in the television series "The Walking Dead," where Daryl Dixon is a prominent character.
The name Daryl is derived from two elements: the Old English word "dæl" meaning " dale " or valley, and the Old Norse element "-rīkr" which means " powerful ". Therefore, Daryl could be interpreted as meaning "powerful valley dweller." However, it is important to note that this etymology might not have been the intention when the name was coined.
The use of Daryl as a given name appears to be a modern creation. It was not listed in the Social Security Administration's baby names data prior to 1970. The first significant appearance of Daryl on the popularity charts was in the late 1980s, with its highest ranking being number 324 in the year 2000.
Despite its recent origin as a given name, Daryl has been used as a surname for centuries. Some notable bearers of this surname include Sir Reginald Dyarle (d. 1377), who was an English knight during the reign of Edward III, and John Dyrell (d. 1594), a prominent English merchant and entrepreneur.
In popular culture, Daryl has been used beyond "The Walking Dead." It is also the name of characters in the films "Daryl Hannah" (1987) and "My Best Friend's Wedding" (1997), as well as in the television series "Charmed" (1998-2006).
In summary, Daryl is an American given name with a unique origin and meaning. While its use has gained popularity in recent years due to popular culture references, it is also deeply rooted in history through its usage as a surname for centuries.
"The name Daryl experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the course of a century. While it peaked at an impressive 977 births in 1949 and again at 1832 births in 1956, it has since declined to as few as 74 births in recent years (2019, 2022). The total number of babies named Daryl over this period is 62,860."