How Many People Are Named Barney?
Complete statistics for the name Barney: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Barney means 'bear-like' and has a very rare charm, with only 1 in 56,467 Americans sharing this name. That's just 5,844 people today, making it truly unique. The majority, 89%, are over 60, giving it an older-generation feel.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life-path number 11 represents spiritual insight and intuition.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 88All 16,132 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1919Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Barney Through the Generations
Barney peaked in popularity back in 1919 with 304 births, but its charm has remained steady through the decades. Today, there are 5,844 people named Barney living in the US, with most being over 60 years old. This age skew paints a picture of a name that's been passed down through generations, maintaining its classic appeal.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Barney
Barney is a masculine given name. It is often short for Barnard, Barnett, and other names. It is also derived from the Slavic name Barni, the pet form of Barnim, which means "defender", and it was formerly a popular name throughout Pomerania. Notable people with the name include:…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Barney's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Barney
How Many People Have the Name Barney?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 15,671 people in the United States currently share the name Barney. That works out to roughly 1 in every 21,150 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Barney a Common or Rare Name?
Barney is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Barney Mean?
Barney means "bear-like" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Barney in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Barney Most Popular?
The name Barney reached peak popularity in 1919, with 304 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Barney?
Approximately 15,671 people named Barney live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 15,671. That works out to roughly 1 in 21,150 Americans.
Is Barney a rare name?
Barney is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 21,150 Americans has this name.
What does the name Barney mean?
Barney means "bear-like" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Barney more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Barney are male and 1% are female.
When was Barney most popular?
Barney peaked in 1919 with 304 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.