Darius
/də.ˈɹaɪ.əs/
Darius derives from the Old Persian Dārayava(h)uš, meaning “possessing goodness” or “upholding the good.” The name combines dāraya (to possess) and vahu (good).
Darius the Great ruled the Achaemenid Empire from 522 to 486 BC, expanding it from Egypt to India. He established the Royal Road, standardised coinage, and built the capital at Persepolis.
Darius peaked at No. 152 in 1990 with 2,033 births. In 2024 it sits at No. 746 with 343 births, declining but retaining a loyal following.
What the name Darius means
NFL quarterback Darius Slayton and musician Darius Rucker have kept the name visible. In African American communities, Darius has been especially popular since the 1980s.
Three syllables—dah-RY-us—carry regal weight. The stressed middle syllable and Latin ending give the name an imperial sound that matches its Persian royal origins.
Parents drawn to Darius value its historical grandeur. Few names carry the weight of an empire-builder in their etymology.
The name bridges Persian, Greek, and Latin traditions—Greeks knew Darius as their great adversary, and the Latin form spread through European scholarship.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Darius
Darius - similar names
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