BabyNameScore

Darius

duh·RY·us or DARE·ee·us · 5 syllables

Darius is distinctive.

Meaning: Possessing goodness / holding firm the good

82/100

Strong Practical Fit

Balanced across pronunciation, everyday use, lifetime fit and international use.

Name Profile

  1. Pronunciation & Spelling

    Learnable with light exposure

    A well-established name with a clear, learnable pronunciation: duh-RY-us or DARE-ee-us.

    76/100

  2. Everyday Use

    Low risk

    95/100

  3. Growing Up

    Strong lifetime fit

    Works comfortably across child and adult settings.

    82/100

  4. International Use

    Broad international fit

    Works cleanly across the assessed languages and writing systems.

    85/100

ORIGIN & HISTORY

About the name

Darius is the Latin form of Greek Dareios, itself derived from the Old Persian royal name Darayauš, a compound of daraya- ('to hold, possess') and -vau- ('good'), so the name's documented sense is close to 'holder/possessor of good(ness).' It was borne by three kings of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, most famously Darius the Great, before becoming an English given name that saw rising use from the mid-20th century onward.

  1. 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎢𐏁 (Old Persian Darayauš). Possessing goodness / holding firm the good. Three ancient kings of Persia bore this name, most notably Darius the Great (Darayauš), who expanded the Achaemenid Empire to its greatest extent; his military campaign against Greece ended in defeat at the Battle of Marathon. The name remained uncommon in English-speaking countries until the mid-20th century, when its popularity increased, including notable modern use as an African-American name in the United States. In Lithuania, use of the name was influenced by aviator Steponas Darius (1896-1933), who died attempting a nonstop transatlantic flight to his homeland.
POPULARITY

Darius over time

United States
#788RANK

Rank #788 gives national context, not a classroom forecast.

Uncommon in current U.S. usage. Ranked #788 in the U.S., 2025.

SourceU.S. Social Security Administration · 2025 release

Pronunciation & Forms

SAY IT

duh·RY·us or DARE·ee·us

STRESS ON THE SECOND SYLLABLE

OTHER-LANGUAGE FORMS
  • DareiosAncient Greek

More about Darius

FORMALITY

Darius is used as a full, formal given name; it is not conventionally treated as a nickname or short form of another name.

EDITORIAL SYNTHESIS

The Decision

Darius is a name that holds up in everyday use. Surname-dependent compatibility remains unassessed until a surname is added.

STRENGTH

Uses standard characters that systems widely handle cleanly. Fits cleanly on every form, badge, and signature line.

CONSIDERATION

Pronounced "dah-REE-us" — may invite a pronunciation check on first meeting.

BEST FIT

Everyday Use is the strongest-scoring part of this name — no obvious nickname traps, rhymes, or initial issues detected.

FULL-NAME CHECK

See how it works with a surname.

Darius