Darrell

Meaning of Darrell

Darrell is an adventurous travel story wrapped up in six letters: it began as the Norman-French surname d’Airelle—“the fellow from Airelle,” a berry-covered hamlet near Lille—and hitchhiked across the English Channel before salsa-stepping into American first-name status in the roaring 1920s, peaking mid-century when baby boomer parents couldn’t resist its smooth, two-step rhythm (think 1950s jukeboxes spinning at full tilt). Pronounced DAR-ul, the name sounds like a trumpet flourish—crisp, confident, ready for the spotlight—so it’s no surprise you’ll spot it on Hall-of-Fame cleats (NFL legend Darrell Green), comedy stages (SNL’s Darrell Hammond) and even NASCAR tracks (Darrell Waltrip). Though its literal meaning is simply “from Airelle,” many parents hear an echo of “darling” or the Spanish cariño, turning Darrell into a quiet love note. Today it coasts along in the 800s on the U.S. charts, a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered—perfect for families who want a name with French pedigree, golden-age swagger, and just enough Latin spice to make Abuela break into a happy cha-cha when she first whispers it to the baby.