Holding steady.
Popularity of Barnett since 1880
Babies named Barnett per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Barnett's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 31 |
| 1900s | 27 |
| 1910s | 215 |
| 1920s | 232 |
| 1930s | 163 |
| 1940s | 210 |
| 1950s | 172 |
| 1960s | 103 |
| 1970s | 44 |
| 1980s | 51 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Barnett is a surname-derived given name that enjoyed its heyday at the close of the 19th century, reaching peak usage in 1899. As a diminutive of Bernard, it shares the 'bear-strong' heritage of its root name. Although it never again approached that early popularity, the name has maintained a steady but minuscule presence, a stable trajectory over the decades. Its rarity today gives it a distinctive, old-fashioned charm. While it never appeared among the top state-level rankings, its late-1800s frequency reflects the broader fashion for adopting family names as first names, a trend that also produced other now-uncommon gems.
Barnett is an English surname-turned-first-name, itself a diminutive of the medieval personal name Bernard, which was introduced to England by the Normans. The name Bernard comes from the Old German 'Bernhard', composed of 'bern' (bear) and 'hard' (brave, hardy), meaning 'strong as a bear'. Barnett was most popular in the United States in the late 19th century, particularly in the 1890s, reflecting a Victorian-era favor for surname-style given names.
Sibling names for Barnett
Names that share Barnett's style, for a brother or sister.
