Darla
Say it: DAR-la
GirlMeans usually linked to "darling"5 letters2 syllables
#184
in Ireland (2025)
#187 with spellings combined
25
babies in 2025
#187
best rank (2025)
119
babies since 2014
Darla through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #187 |
| 2024 | 17 | #248 |
| 2023 | 17 | #238 |
| 2022 | 12 | #338 |
| 2021 | 9 | #430 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 4 | #700 |
| 2018 | 12 | #358 |
| 2017 | 5 | #654 |
| 2016 | 4 | #749 |
| 2014 | 4 | #752 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Darla mean?
Usually linked to "darling"
English, a shortening of Darlene, a name linked to the word darling.
Say it right
DARla
The story of Darla
Darla is a shortening of Darlene, a twentieth-century name. Darlene in turn is usually linked to the English word darling. Darla keeps the sound of the word but drops the ending, which gives it a lighter feel.
It sits alongside other short girls’ names ending in -la, such as Lola and Carla, and it has only recently come into use in Ireland.
It first reached the CSO list in 2014, and it has risen quickly since then. Its best year so far was 2025, with 25 girls, placing it at number 187. In Northern Ireland it is less common, with a best rank of number 192 in 2024.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Darla (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Darla
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Darla | 25 | 119 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #192 (2024); 37 babies since 2012.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.