Danann vs Darren
Danann and Darrencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2002, Danann was ranked #3225 and Darren #221 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Danann was ranked #779 and Darren #276 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Danann was ranked #312 and Darren #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Danann and Darren over time
Danann and Darren appear together in 1 published list, across 10 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Danann in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Danann in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Danann #444 in 2008, Darren #88 in 2006.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2006–2022
Danann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Darren in 10.
Highest recorded here: Danann #444 in 2008, Darren #88 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Danann #779, Darren #276.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Danann | Darren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Boys #312 (2023) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Danann does not have one recorded yet.
- Danann and Darren both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Danann doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Danann
Popularity journey
First recorded2006
First recorded at #596 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 2006 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2008–2023
Highest recorded position: #303 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2013 (recorded 2008–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #312 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023.
Northern Ireland · Boys
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys