All about the name

Darius

Male

« Darius is a Persian name meaning "holder of goodness," notably borne by ancient kings like Darius I the Great. »

#728 last year

Meaning, origin, history

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.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Darius since 1880

Total births
53,327
Total since 1880
Peak year
1994
2,184 births
in 2023
364
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-12%
vs previous 5 years