A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Warner since 1880
Babies named Warner per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Warner's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 168 |
| 1890s | 191 |
| 1900s | 189 |
| 1910s | 728 |
| 1920s | 1,186 |
| 1930s | 1,316 |
| 1940s | 822 |
| 1950s | 624 |
| 1960s | 539 |
| 1970s | 304 |
| 1980s | 265 |
| 1990s | 229 |
| 2000s | 403 |
| 2010s | 825 |
| 2020s | 765 |
Meaning & origin
Warner is a strong, traditional name with warrior roots that never fully faded, though it was most common in the 1890s. It returned to popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, peaking at rank 376 in 1921. After a long decline, it has been rising again since 1996, and in 2025 it ranked 1362nd, given to about 1 in 12,468 boys. It was most popular in Alabama, Indiana, and Tennessee, reflecting a Southern and Midwestern appeal. Its revival suggests a taste for dignified old-world names.
Warner is derived from an Old Germanic personal name composed of warin 'guard' and heri 'army', thus 'protecting warrior'. It was introduced to England by the Normans and was common in the Middle Ages. The surname Warner has many notable bearers, and the given name saw a resurgence in the 1890s, peaking in 1899.
Where Warner 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: Warn
Sibling names for Warner
Names that share Warner's style, for a brother or sister.
