How Many People Are Named Purnell?
Complete statistics for the name Purnell: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Purnell is a very rare male name, with only 446 people bearing it today, making up just 1 in 739,931 Americans. The majority of people named Purnell are over 60, giving the name a distinctly older-generation feel.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life-path number 8 represents power, authority, and success.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 71All 768 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
📜 Purnell Through the Generations
Purnell has been a stable presence in American naming trends since its peak in 1919 when 21 babies were given this name. Today, the name's bearers span three decades, but the age distribution leans heavily towards the older generation, with 65% being over 60 years old. This suggests that Purnell remains a classic, old-school name, often passed down through families.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Purnell's English surname used as a first name roots
📄 About the Name Purnell
How Many People Have the Name Purnell?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 8,238 people in the United States currently share the name Purnell. That works out to roughly 1 in every 40,234 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Purnell a Common or Rare Name?
Purnell 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 Purnell Mean?
Purnell means "English occupational surname (one who tends)" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Purnell in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Purnell Most Popular?
The name Purnell reached peak popularity in 1919, with 21 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 Purnell?
Approximately 8,238 people named Purnell live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 8,238. That works out to roughly 1 in 40,234 Americans.
Is Purnell a rare name?
Purnell is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 40,234 Americans has this name.
What does the name Purnell mean?
Purnell means "English occupational surname (one who tends)" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins.
Is Purnell more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Purnell are male and 0% are female.
When was Purnell most popular?
Purnell peaked in 1919 with 21 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.