Holding steady.
Popularity of Garnell since 1912
Babies named Garnell per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1964, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Garnell's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 23 |
| 1920s | 45 | 27 |
| 1930s | 22 | 61 |
| 1940s | 21 | 32 |
| 1950s | 6 | 99 |
| 1960s | 5 | 79 |
| 1970s | 0 | 28 |
| 1980s | 0 | 39 |
| 1990s | 0 | 13 |
| 2000s | 0 | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
An exceedingly rare given name, Garnell first entered U.S. birth records in 1912, the earliest year it has been recorded. It has never ranked among the top 1000 names, and its usage has remained minimal. The name's peak year was also 1912, suggesting it never gained widespread traction. It is likely adapted from the English surname Garnell, which itself may derive from a place name or be a variant of Garnet. With no top states to indicate regional preference, Garnell appears to have been used sporadically across the country. Its trajectory has remained stable but at such a low level that it is virtually unseen in modern naming trends.
Garnell likely originates as an English surname, perhaps a variant of Garnall or Garnell, which may be locational, referring to a place where alder trees grew (from Old English 'gar' meaning 'spear' or 'triangular piece of land' and 'alor' meaning 'alder'). It has also been used as a given name, possibly as a diminutive of Garnet, a gemstone name. The name saw limited use in the early 20th century, peaking in 1912.
Sibling names for Garnell
Names that share Garnell's style, for a brother or sister.
