The baby name Darcy is a literary powerhouse with a stylish sound.
Thanks to Mierca for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME DARCY MEAN?
Like many a surname, Darcy begins on the map.
In this case, we’re in northern France, in Manche. Or maybe in another place – at least two villages were named Bois d’Arcy, and there’s more than one Chateau d’Arcy, too.
This is where it gets fuzzy. The meaning of the name Darcy is up for debate. The two chief theories are:
- It comes from a given name, ultimately related to the word bear. The Gaulish word for bear was artos, and a few inscriptions mention a bear goddess Artio and bear god Artaius, the latter associated with the Roman god Mercury. But linking Darcy to artos is probably folk etymology. Lots of other French place names and surnames have a strong Ar sound, like d’Arques and Avranches, but any connection is unclear.
- It’s an Anglicized form of Irish name Ó Dorchaidhe, from the Irish dorcha, meaning dark. That sounds a little Goth or even gloomy, but it probably just referred to physical appearance, like dark hair.
The story is probably circular. Normans came from d’Arcy to England and then went on to Ireland. The name’s original meaning was lost, and the Irish association stuck: descendant of the dark one.
Norman d’Arcy came to England with William the Conqueror and settled at Nocton, near Lincoln.
It’s been an aristocratic name for centuries. Sir John Darcy served as advisor to King Edward III in the 14th century and earned the title Baron Darcy. Variations of the title have been bestowed ever since.
LITERARY HERO NAME
It’s the perfect name for the brooding hero in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice.
The character Fitzwilliam Darcy is introduced at a ball. As a wealthy landowner, Mr Darcy commands plenty of attention. But he’s taciturn – even rude – and criticizes the Bennet family within earshot of second eldest sister Elizabeth.
As it turns out, of course, Elizabeth and Darcy are meant to be together. It’s a favorite tale, retold again and again, and sometimes updated for our changing times. Laurence Olivier, Colin Firth, and Matthew Macfadyen have all played the leading man. Firth also portrays Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones films, a character originally based on Austen’s enduring story.
It’s easy to imagine a male Darcy, then, because even the most casual Austen fan can immediately picture the character.
20th CENTURY DARCY
We tend to think of our moment as peak surname name, and that might be true, with names like Harper, Hudson, Avery, and Jackson on every kindergarten roster in the United States.
But it’s a trend that has built across the generations. Surnames like Kimberly, Courtney, and Ashley were all popular during the second half of the 20th century.
Accordingly, the baby name Darcy also enjoyed a moment.
Familiar figures include:
- John Denver recorded a song called “Darcy Farrow,” about a girl who dies young. It’s a sweet song, included on more than one Denver album from 1972’s Rocky Mountain High onward. He didn’t write it, and it was performed by others before and after, but Denver made it familiar.
- On another musical note, D’arcy Wretzky played bass for Smashing Pumpkins.
- The name appears in ballet. Darcey Bussell and DarciKistler made their names as famous ballerinas. The association lends the name some elegance.
- Long-running Canadian teen drama franchise Degrassi included a character called Darcy. So did Australian mainstay Neighbors.
- Comedian and actresse D’Arcy Carden became famous for her work on The Good Place.
- Kat Dennings continue to play scientist Darcy Lewis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She earned her doctorate in astrophysics and originally was part of Jane Foster’s team when Thor first came hurtling to Earth.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME DARCY?
From 1954 through 1970, he appeared in the US Top 1000 for boys nearly every year.
In Australia, it’s used almost exclusively as a masculine name. But in the UK and the US, it’s more likely to be considered a feminine name, or at least gender-neutral.
From 1949 through 1994, Darcy was among the Top 1000 popular names for girls, peaking in 1968 at #349. That’s not terribly common, though.
And as of 2024? It’s back in the US Top 1000, ranking #983 for girls.
Looking at the extended data from the Social Security Administration, other spellings are also in use in the US:
- 262 girls were named Darcy; along with 29 boys.
- Darcie was used for 60 girls.
- 37 girls were named Darci.
- Another six girls were called Darcey.
While it sounds like a unisex name, in the US, the numbers give this one to the girls.
Still, as a surname associated with an Irish origin, it feels like popular choices Rowan or Riley – a potential gender-neutral name choice.
COMEBACK POTENTIAL
The baby name Darcy has dipped a toe back into the US Top 1000. Could it trend?
Given similar name preferences – think Harper and Harlow, Parker and Marley, Darcy feels like a logical choice for a little girl born now. It’s spirited, high-energetic, and refined, too.
Reappearing in the Top 1000 might also give the name a boost. The popularity of the name rankings means that Darcy’s return will be mentioned and discussed, and possibly boost the name even more.
It’s a lovely name, with an appealing mix of strength and lightness, a familiar choice that has never been all that popular.
This might just make the baby name Darcy the perfect choice for parents after something familiar, but nicely uncommon.
What do you think of the baby name Darcy?
First published on November 21, 2012, this post was revised on May 28, 2025.
Growing up. In the 50s, with the name, D’Arcy, as a girl, was very difficult. There was one other kid in my grade school with the name Darcy – a boy.
I was often made fun of, called a boy in girl’s clothes, and spent many hours by myself. Around 1960 I was allowed to use my middle name Lynne – in school. Which I did until around 1972. I dont remember why I went back to using my first name. I believe it was because it was unique and different.
As a mother of a son called Darcy (Darcy-Alexander born in 03) I love the name and when he was born I knew no other child called it but as the years have gone on there are plenty of girls with the name, While he may not like it at the moment , I feel it will stand him in good stead when he’s older and has a more unusual name.
I kind of like the idea of it on a boy, but thanks to the Dropkick Murphys, Darcy is all girl to me!
Darcy is all mom-name to me, just like Marcy. D’arcy I can almost see as masc., linking it back to its surname origins (and because it reminds me of D’artagnan). Artaius, on the other hand, is swoon worthy in my book.
Sounds masculine to me. I think its top100 for boys in Australia
Yay! I’ve been crushing on Darcy lately (only Darcy, not Darci or Darcie) and this post is very interesting. To me, it sounds all girl (kind of like Corey does), and I’ve only known female Darcy’s. I’ve had daydreams of naming a second daughter Darcy (to accompany Carys) because I like the way they sound together. Clearly, they’re very different styles and this now has me second guessing myself, which is fine, because it’ll be easier to reason with myself when my husband rejects it.
IDK why u love it so much. Is it because I’m possibly the biggest Smashing Pumpkins fan on the planet? No – D’Arcy Wretsky is a…wreck. I just like it. Just like that. I’d use it. You don’t hear it too often, but it’s not a weird one, either.
Darcy is a great name. I agree that it has kind of feminine sounds, but it just seems 100% masculine to me.
The only Darcy’s I’ve known have been boys, so this reads masculine to me. However, I admit that it wold probably work equally well on either gender. I think the mother of a male Darcy might come in for more teasing than her son 🙂
Off the topic of Darcy, but right now it seems like every other woman on my birthboard who’s expecting a son plans on naming him Silas/Sylas.
It’s really catching on, isn’t it?
Darcy is only masculine to me, but this could be because I have a couple of male Darcys in my family tree. Oh, how I wish I could use Darcy on a boy! I would love to honor family, but I’m too afraid a male Darcy would face a good amount of ridicule, these days… 🙁