What does Darius mean?
Darius comes from the Old Persian for “possessing goodness,” borne by Persian kings.
What does Jasper mean?
From the Persian, “treasurer,” and also the name of the gemstone. Traditionally one of the three magi.
Darius vs Jasper
Which is more popular?
Jasper is more popular than Darius today: about 2,804 US babies were given the name Jasper in 2025, compared with 322 named Darius.
| Darius | Jasper | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Possessor of good | Treasurer |
| Origin | Persian | Persian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | DAIR-ee-us | JAS-per |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1994 (2,184) | 2023 (2,944) |
| In 2025 | 322 | 2,804 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Darius
Jasper
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Darius | Jasper |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,338 | 16,944 |
| 2010s | 6,548 | 18,214 |
| 2000s | 12,436 | 5,116 |
| 1990s | 19,665 | 2,540 |
| 1980s | 7,177 | 1,860 |
| 1970s | 3,144 | 1,181 |
| 1960s | 1,351 | 1,336 |
| 1950s | 587 | 1,918 |
| 1940s | 252 | 2,120 |
| 1930s | 170 | 2,366 |
| 1920s | 178 | 3,764 |
| 1910s | 128 | 2,809 |
| 1900s | 0 | 715 |
| 1890s | 10 | 725 |
| 1880s | 22 | 820 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Darius or Jasper more popular?
Jasper is more popular than Darius today: about 2,804 US babies were given the name Jasper in 2025, compared with 322 named Darius.
What is the difference between Darius and Jasper?
Darius means Possessor of good (Persian origin), while Jasper means Treasurer (Persian origin).
Which name is older, Darius or Jasper?
In US records, Darius first appears in 1880 and Jasper in 1880, so Darius has the longer recorded history.