"he who holds firm the good"
Origin: Old Persian
Language: Persian
Darius
Pronunciation: [ d-er-EYE-uhs ]
Does Darius flow with your last name?
A Persian king's name with global staying power
Persian
Greek
Roman
American
African American
Royal
Classic
Strong
Sophisticated
Bold
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Darius
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Darius
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Darius
See all →What the Darius report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Darius the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Darius
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Darius head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Darius actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Darius
Darius comes from the Old Persian name 'Dārayavahush,' which has been interpreted as combining 'dāra' (possessing, holding) and 'vahu' (goodness, virtue), giving 'possessing goodness' or 'he who holds firm the good.' The name was famously borne by three great kings of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, most notably Darius I (the Great), who expanded the empire from Greece to India and oversaw the construction of Persepolis.
Darius has been popular in African American communities since the 1970s, chosen for its regal, classical quality and its distance from Anglo-European naming conventions. It also carries the gravitational pull of one of history's most powerful emperors, giving bearers a name with genuine historical weight.
In Persian culture, Darius (Dariush) is one of the most revered royal names — Darius the Great transformed the Achaemenid Empire into one of the ancient world's most sophisticated governments, introducing standardized weights, measures, and a postal system. In the US, Darius has become particularly associated with the African American community and with the musician Darius Rucker.
Historical Record
Darius first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 52,917 babies have been named Darius in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Darius is past its peak , currently ranked #746 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Darius I of Persia (550-486 BC) created one of history's first organized postal systems, inspiring the USPS motto: 'Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night...'
- The name Darius has been borne by three kings of Persia, two kings of Media, and one king of Pontus — a truly royal pedigree
Darius in Other Languages
Greek
Δαρείος
Latin
Darius
Arabic
داريوس
French
Darius
German
Darius
Persian
داریوش
Popularity Over Time
#746
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1990
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Darius
D
Darius Rucker
Musician
1966
American musician, lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish and successful solo country artist
D
Darius I
Royalty
550
Darius the Great, King of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, who expanded it to its greatest extent and built Persepolis
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Allan
Boy
"rock, harmony"
#854
Cayson
Boy
"stone worker (via Mason)"
#764
Princeton
Boy
"prince's town"
#615
Dexter
Boy
"right-handed, skillful"
#722
Trenton
Boy
"Trent's town, settlement on the Trent"
#889
Compare Darius with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #746
- Total SSA Count
- 343
- Cultural Origins
- Persian Greek Roman American African American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Dare
Dary
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Darius
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Darius fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Darius is also used as a girl name, ranked #35550.
View Darius as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Darius →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Darius with...
Same Origin Names (Persian)
See all Persian names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Darius
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Darius and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Darius sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Allan
Boy
Celtic/Brythonic origin
"rock, harmony"
#854 in US
Cayson
Boy
Old French origin
"stone worker (via Mason)"
#764 in US
Princeton
Boy
English origin
"prince's town"
#615 in US
Dexter
Boy
Latin dexter origin
"right-handed, skillful"
#722 in US
Trenton
Boy
Old English origin
"Trent's town, settlement on the Trent"
#889 in US
Axton
Boy
Old English origin
"ash tree settlement"
#838 in US
Emory
Boy
Old Germanic amal + ric origin
"work and power combined"
#886 in US
Kolson
Boy
English origin
"son of Cole"
#801 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Darius's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Darius
What does the name Darius mean?
"he who holds firm the good" (from Old Persian). Darius comes from the Old Persian name 'Dārayavahush,' which has been interpreted as combining 'dāra' (possessing, holding) and 'vahu' (goodness, virtue), giving 'possessing goodness' or 'he who holds firm the good.' The name was famously borne by three great kings of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, most notably Darius I (the Great), who expanded the empire from Greece to India and oversaw the construction of Persepolis.
What is the origin of the name Darius?
Darius has Old Persian, Persian, Greek, Roman, American, and African American origins. In Old Persian, it means "he who holds firm the good".
Is Darius a boy or girl name?
Darius is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #746. As a girl name, it is ranked #35550. Darius is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Darius?
Darius is pronounced d-er-EYE-uhs.
How popular is the name Darius?
Darius is currently ranked #746 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Darius?
Common nicknames for Darius include Dare and Dary.
What are good middle names for Darius?
Popular middle name pairings include Darius James, Darius Emmanuel, Darius Cole, Darius Antoine, Darius Malik, Darius Andre, and Darius Xavier.
What are good sibling names for Darius?
Names that pair well with Darius as siblings include Cyrus, Xerxes, Leila, Jasmine, Persia, Titan, and Amara.
How many syllables does Darius have?
Darius has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Darius a common or rare name?
Darius is moderately common, ranked #746 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.
What boy names are similar to Darius?
About the Name Darius
Darius is a boy name with Persian, Greek, Roman, American, and African American origins . The name means "he who holds firm the good" in Old Persian .
Is Darius a boy or girl name? Darius is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #746 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #35,550. Darius is more commonly used as a boy name.
Darius is currently ranked #746 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Darius has 3 syllables and is pronounced d-er-EYE-uhs, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Darius include Dare and Dary. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Darius include Dariel, Dario, Darian, Darien, Darion . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Old Persian Names
Browse all names with this origin
D
Names Starting with D
More boy names like Darius
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis