Daryl

Daryl is a spelling of Darrell, which comes from an English surname with a Norman French place-name background. The surname d’Airelle identified someone associated with Airelle in France. Its origin is geographical; the appealing meaning “dear one” or “beloved” is not the established explanation of this name family.

Darryl and Darrell are closely related spellings, while Daryl has a comparatively compact written form. Actor Daryl Hannah is a familiar female bearer, and the name also has a long history of use for boys. That range of usage does not alter the surname’s meaning. The family-name connection remains the clearest account whether Daryl is chosen independently or to honor a relative.