"upholder of good, who holds firm the good"
Origin: Old Persian
Language: Persian
Darius
Pronunciation: [ d-er-EYE-uhs ]
Does Darius flow with your last name?
Ancient Persian royal name, bold for a girl
Persian
Iranian
Greek
American
Bold
Strong
Unique
Elegant
Vintage
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Darius
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"rich, wealthy"
Origin: Persian
Language: English
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Things to Know About This Name
- Strongly associated as a masculine name in most cultures
The Story of Darius
Darius is derived from the Old Persian name Dārayavauš, composed of 'dāraya' (to hold, to possess) and 'vahu' (good, well), meaning 'who holds firm the good' or 'upholder of good.' Latinized as Darius, this was the name of three great Persian Achaemenid kings. As a feminine name, Darius-girl represents an unconventional gender-crossing choice, similar to using traditionally masculine names like James, Elliott, or Darius for girls. The feminine form Daria is closely related and more commonly used for girls.
Darius as a masculine name has seen steady use in the United States and Europe, particularly in African-American communities where it gained popularity in the 1990s. As a feminine name, it is extremely rare — a bold, non-traditional choice. Parents who choose it typically value its strength, history, and the gender-neutral trend in modern naming.
The name Darius carries the weight of Persian imperial history. Darius I the Great was one of the most powerful rulers in ancient history, expanding the Persian Empire to its greatest extent. Using this name for a girl makes a statement about rejecting gender naming conventions.
Historical Record
Darius first appeared in US Social Security records in 1965.
Over 272 babies have been named Darius in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Darius is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #35,550 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Darius I the Great ruled the Persian Empire at its largest extent (522-486 BC), from the Balkans to the Indus Valley
- Darius Rucker, lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish and country music star, popularized the name in 1990s America
- The female form Daria became famous through the MTV animated series 'Daria' (1997-2002)
Darius in Other Languages
Greek
Δαρεῖος
French
Darius
German
Darius
Persian
داریوش
Spanish
Darío
Popularity Over Time
#35,550
Current Rank
Rare
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
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Compare Darius with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #35,550
- Total SSA Count
- 6
- Cultural Origins
- Persian Iranian Greek American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Dari
Daria
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, American heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Distinctive pick, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Darius
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Darius is also used as a boy name, ranked #746.
View Darius as a boy name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Persian)
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Greek origin
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American English origin
"Americas iconic sports car (modern us..."
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Welsh or literary coinage origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Darius
What does the name Darius mean?
"upholder of good, who holds firm the good" (from Old Persian). "rich, wealthy" (from Persian). Darius is derived from the Old Persian name Dārayavauš, composed of 'dāraya' (to hold, to possess) and 'vahu' (good, well), meaning 'who holds firm the good' or 'upholder of good.' Latinized as Darius, this was the name of three great Persian Achaemenid kings. As a feminine name, Darius-girl represents an unconventional gender-crossing choice, similar to using traditionally masculine names like James, Elliott, or Darius for girls. The feminine form Daria is closely related and more commonly used for girls.
What is the origin of the name Darius?
Darius has Old Persian, Persian, Iranian, Greek, and American origins. In Old Persian, it means "upholder of good, who holds firm the good". In Persian, it means "rich, wealthy".
Is Darius a boy or girl name?
Darius is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #35550. As a boy name, it is ranked #746. 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 #35550 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Darius?
Common nicknames for Darius include Dari and Daria.
What are good middle names for Darius?
Popular middle name pairings include Darius Rose, Darius Marie, Darius Grace, Darius Ann, Darius Jean, and Darius Lee.
What are good sibling names for Darius?
Names that pair well with Darius as siblings include Cyrus, Xerxes, Arya, Dara, Kira, and Orion.
How many syllables does Darius have?
Darius has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Darius a common or rare name?
Darius is an uncommon name, ranked #35550 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Darius?
About the Name Darius
Darius is a girl name with Persian, Iranian, Greek, and American origins . The name means "upholder of good, who holds firm the good" in Old Persian .
Is Darius a boy or girl name? Darius is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #35,550 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #746. Darius is more commonly used as a boy name.
Darius is currently ranked #35,550 in popularity for girl 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 Dari and Daria. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Darius include Dariana, Daria, Dariela, Darianna, Dariyah . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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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