Darius is a name of Persian origin, derived from the Old Persian word "Dārayavahauš," which means "possessing greatness" or "holder of goodness." It was the name of several ancient Persian kings, most notably Darius I (the Great), who ruled from 522 to 486 BCE and is credited with creating one of the first known systems of writing, among other achievements.
The name Darius has a long history and has been used by various cultures throughout time. In Greek mythology, Darius was a son of Hades, the god of the underworld. The name also appears in the Bible as the father-in-law of Queen Esther, who played a significant role in Jewish and Christian traditions.
Throughout history, people named Darius have made their mark in various fields. Some notable figures include Darius Milhaud, a French composer; Darius Rucker, an American musician; and Darius Kazemi, an American software engineer and artist. The name has also been used by several fictional characters, such as Darius Jackson in the video game "Call of Duty: Black Ops" and Darius Xheva in the comic book series "The Uncanny X-Men."
In recent years, Darius has seen a resurgence in popularity as a given name for boys. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was one of the fastest-growing boy names in the United States between 2015 and 2020, ranking among the top 300 most popular names each year during that period.
Overall, Darius is a strong and distinct name with a rich history and meaningful significance. Its association with greatness and goodness makes it an appealing choice for parents looking for a unique yet significant name for their child.
The name Darius experienced a significant increase in popularity over time, with a total of 53,327 babies named Darius from 1880 to 2023. While the number of births fluctuated greatly during the early years, it began to rise steadily from around 1946 onwards. The name's peak popularity occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with over 1,500 births recorded annually between 1987 and 1994. Since then, the popularity of the name has declined significantly, with fewer than 600 babies named Darius each year from 2006 onwards. In recent years, there have been approximately 300-400 babies named Darius annually.