Darnell

Meaning of Darnell

This name comes from an Old French surname, likely a place name. It means 'hidden nook' or 'secret place'.

Darnell has Old French roots — browse every Old French baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Darnell

After ranking as high as #660 in 2000, Darnell has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Darnell

• Darnell Nurse
  NHL ice hockey defenseman
• Darnell Dockett
  Former NFL defensive end
• Darnell Martin
  Film and television director
• Darnell McDonald
  Former MLB baseball outfielder
• Darnell Savage Jr.
  NFL football safety

More Old French names

Questions about the name Darnell

What does the name Darnell mean?

Darnell means this name comes from an old french surname, likely a place name. it means 'hidden nook' or 'secret place', and it comes from Old French origins.

Is Darnell a boy's or a girl's name?

Darnell is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Darnell?

Darnell did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Darnell most popular?

Darnell peaked at #660 in 2000.