A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Barney since 1880
Babies named Barney per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Barney's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 535 |
| 1890s | 572 |
| 1900s | 595 |
| 1910s | 2,197 |
| 1920s | 2,400 |
| 1930s | 1,911 |
| 1940s | 2,168 |
| 1950s | 2,672 |
| 1960s | 1,598 |
| 1970s | 755 |
| 1980s | 430 |
| 1990s | 173 |
| 2000s | 30 |
| 2010s | 37 |
| 2020s | 17 |
Meaning & origin
Barney is a classic nickname-turned-given name that has seen a long arc of American usage. First recorded in 1880, it reached its peak rank of 12,008 in 1898, a time when the name was far more common. In 2025, approximately 1 in 341,615 babies were named Barney, showing its current rarity. The name has been on a rising trajectory since 2022, suggesting a possible revival. While Barney was historically most popular in the 1890s, it has not been associated with any particular U.S. state. Its vintage charm and short, friendly sound appeal to parents seeking a traditional yet underused name.
Barney originated as a pet form of Barnaby, which itself comes from the Aramaic name Bar-Nabi meaning 'son of the prophet' or 'son of consolation'. The name was popular in medieval England and saw a revival in the 19th century. In recent decades, it has become less common, though it occasionally appears as a nickname or given name.
Where Barney is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Barn
Variants: Barnaby
Sibling names for Barney
Names that share Barney's style, for a brother or sister.
