Darla

An American coinage derived as a clipped form of Darlene or the affectionate noun darling. It barely appeared in birth registries until child actress Darla Hood joined the Our Gang comedy shorts in the mid-1930s. American parents adopted it as a breezy alternative to heavier two-syllable names.

The name reads as mid-century American with a slight Southern tilt. A Darla is usually assumed to be in her late fifties, likely equipped with a distinct laugh and strong opinions on iced tea. It carries none of the solemnity of Victorian names and all of the directness of postwar suburban radio. It suggests someone who will tell you your zipper is down without making a production of it.