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 given statistics provide an interesting overview of the number of babies named Darius born in the United States each year from 1880 to 2023.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Darius was quite uncommon, with fewer than 10 births per year occurring between 1880 and 1916. However, starting in 1917, there was a noticeable increase in the number of babies named Darius, with 27 births recorded that year.
The 1920s saw a fluctuating trend in the popularity of the name Darius, ranging from 14 to 25 births per year. The 1930s and 1940s continued this pattern, with some years experiencing a slight increase or decrease in the number of babies named Darius.
Starting in the mid-1940s, there was a steady rise in the popularity of the name Darius. In 1946, there were 39 births recorded, and this number continued to grow throughout the 1950s and 1960s. By 1967, there were 165 babies named Darius born in the United States.
The 1970s marked a significant turning point for the name Darius. In 1970, there were 259 births recorded, and this number more than doubled by the end of the decade, with 461 babies named Darius born in 1979.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of the name Darius continued to grow. In 1984, there were 601 births recorded, and by 1990, this number had more than tripled, with 2033 babies named Darius born that year.
The peak of popularity for the name Darius occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, even after reaching its peak, the name remained popular throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
Since then, there has been a steady decline in the popularity of the name Darius. In 2000, there were 1564 babies named Darius born in the United States, but by 2023, this number had decreased to 364 births recorded.
Overall, these statistics show that while the name Darius has experienced periods of both high and low popularity throughout history, it has maintained a consistent presence among baby names in the United States.