Dearly loved or open
Darel is a variant of Darrell, which likely derives from the Norman French surname d'Airelle, referring to someone from Airelle in France. It is also frequently associated with the Old English word 'deorling', meaning darling or beloved. In some contexts, it is linked to the French word 'ouvrir', meaning to open, often interpreted as a reference to the blossoming of spring.
Less common today
Darel isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #2,548 in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990βpresent (SSA data).
American ABA basketball player
American NASCAR driver