Merwin, Sherwin, Elwin, Irwin... most "-win" names (that aren't Edwin) are decidedly out of fashion right now.

But what about Darwin?

After fluctuating in popularity for decades, the name Darwin managed to rank consistently among the top 400 baby names in the United States from the mid-1920s until 1960. After that period, its popularity declined -- so much so that it dropped off the list entirely for several years in the 1990s.

Since the turn of the century, though, Darwin has shown signs of a comeback. Here is how the name has fared so far during this decade:

2006 - 772nd most popular boy name
2005 - 861st
2004 - 819th
2003 - 869th
2002 - 903rd
2001 - 875th
2000 - not ranked

In terms of origins, the name Darwin comes from a surname. In most cases, this surname was derived from the Old English given name Deorwine, meaning "dear friend." (In other cases, it can be traced back to a Celtic word meaning "oak.")

The most notable thing about the surname Darwin is that it belonged to celebrated naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882), who first proposed the theory of natural selection and who is now widely known as the "father of evolution." Many things have been named in tribute to Charles Darwin: towns, schools, species, craters... and, very possibly, babies.

But this is where things get tricky. Do parents name their baby boys "Darwin" because they like the name, or because they like the scientific association? Do other parents not choose the name because they dislike that unstylish "-win" ending, or because they don't agree with the entire theory of evolution?

It's hard to determine whether the popularity of Darwin corresponds to naming trends, attitudes about science, or both.

One thing is certain, though: the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth is approaching, and "Darwin Day" celebrations are already being planned all over the world. This means that the name Darwin is going to pop up a lot more often in the media over the next few years. I expect that this increased visibility will also increase the popularity of the name -- but how long this popularity boost may last (if it happens at all) remains to be seen...