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At a Glance: Name: Darcy – Meaning: from the Norman place name Arcy in northern France; ultimate root possibly linked to an old French word for 'to burn' – Origin: French (place name: Arcy) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: DAR-see
Darcy is a modern, minimalist-feeling name that works well for any gender. It comes from Arcy, a place name in northern France — not, as sometimes claimed, an Irish word for 'dark one' (that idea seems to come from confusing it with the unrelated Irish word 'dorcha'). It's said DAR-see.
Meaning & Origin of Darcy
Meaning: From the norman place name arcy in northern france; ultimate root possibly linked to an old french word for 'to burn'.
Origin: French (place name: Arcy).
A common claim: Darcy is sometimes said to mean 'dark one' in Irish Actually: This looks like folk etymology confusing Darcy with the Irish word 'dorcha' (dark). Wiktionary instead traces it to the Norman place name Arcy in northern France, possibly ultimately linked to an old French word for 'to burn.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Darcy
Phonetic: DAR-see IPA: /ˈdɑːrsi/
Popularity of Darcy
Darcy peaked in 1968 at #349, with 644 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #983, with just 262 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1915–2024.
Make Darcy Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Darcy, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Darcy mean?
From the norman place name arcy in northern france; ultimate root possibly linked to an old french word for ‘to burn’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Darcy)
How do you pronounce Darcy?
Darcy is pronounced DAR-see (IPA: /ˈdɑːrsi/).
Is Darcy a popular name right now?
Darcy peaked at #349 in 1968 and is ranked #983 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)
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