Darius
Darius is a boys' name of Persian origin meaning “possessing goodness, kingly.” It ranked #788 in the United States in 2025. From the Old Persian Dārayavauš meaning possessor of good.
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how do you pronounce Darius?
dah-REE-us
where does the name Darius come from?
Through the Latin Dārīus and Greek Dareios from the Old Persian Darayauš, a shortened form of Darayavahuš; the Persian form is Dariush.
Darius the Great was a powerful Achaemenid Persian king who expanded the empire to its greatest extent.
how popular is this name?
Darius has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 75 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 71. It peaked at #152 in 1990, and ranked #788 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #788 |
| 2024 | #746 |
| 2023 | #723 |
| 2022 | #679 |
| 2021 | #636 |
| 2020 | #592 |
| 2019 | #567 |
| 2018 | #510 |
| 2017 | #495 |
| 2016 | #511 |
| 2010 | #337 |
| 2000 | #220 |
| 1990 | #152 |
| 1980 | #356 |
| 1970 | #502 |
| 1960 | #825 |
| 1880 | #600 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Darius fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Darius?
- Darius the Great
- Darius Rucker
- Darius Miles
the history of Darius
Darius the Great ruled the Persian Achaemenid Empire.
what are the nicknames and variants of Darius?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Darius?
what names go well with Darius?
Sibling names that share Darius's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Darius
What does the name Darius mean?
Darius means “possessing goodness, kingly”.
What is the origin of the name Darius?
Darius comes from the Persian naming tradition. Related forms include Dariush.
How popular is the name Darius?
Darius ranked #788 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1990, at #152, and it has spent 75 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Darius a boy or girl name?
Darius is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Darius?
Darius is pronounced dah-REE-us, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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