Holding steady.
Popularity of Barnard since 1891
Babies named Barnard per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1963, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Barnard's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 108 |
| 1920s | 151 |
| 1930s | 95 |
| 1940s | 103 |
| 1950s | 109 |
| 1960s | 178 |
| 1970s | 79 |
| 1980s | 38 |
| 1990s | 24 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Barnard was first recorded in U.S. Social Security data in 1891, its peak year, but has since fallen out of common usage. It ranks near the bottom of historical names and currently has a 1-in-N rate too low to report. The name's trajectory has been stable, meaning it has not seen a revival in recent decades. No top states have shown particular favor for Barnard in modern records, but its Old English roots suggest a long history in English-speaking countries.
Barnard is derived from the Old English personal name Beornheard, composed of beorn 'warrior, man' and heard 'brave, hardy'. It was later reinforced by the Old Norse cognate Bjarnharðr. The name was common in medieval England and appears in the Domesday Book.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Barney, Barny
Variants: Bernard
Sibling names for Barnard
Names that share Barnard's style, for a brother or sister.
