an Australian river; tributary of the Murray River
"The Darling flows into the Murray, creating a major water system in Australia."
A person who is dear to one.
"She whispered sweet nothings to her darling before tucking him in for the night."
In plain English: A darling is someone you really love and care about, often used as an affectionate nickname for a friend or partner.
"My darling is waiting for me at home."
An English and Scottish surname, from nicknames, originally a nickname from darling.
"The Mayor's new assistant was introduced as Darling of Stirling during the town hall meeting."
The word darling comes from the Old English dīerling, which originally meant a favorite person or even a devout Christian beloved by God. It traveled into Middle and Modern English while keeping its core sense of someone cherished.