Total births
1,298
Unisex name · since 1893
Arnett
Arnett has 1,298 recorded births since 1893 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1951 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,298
- total births
- 1893–2006
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Arnett is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,298 have been recorded since 1893.
Social Security Administration records show Arnett recorded 1,298 times among boys since 1893, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1893 to 2006.
- 1,298 total births
- 1893–2006 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,298 boys have been named Arnett since 1893, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2006.
- 1,298
- total births
- 1893–2006
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Arnett was born in this single decade.
1951
Single peak year
35 babies were named Arnett in 1951 - its busiest year on record.
Arnett's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Arnett splits its recorded history at 1948: 44% of all births land in the more recent half, 56% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1896 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1951 peak of 35 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Arnett at a glance
Last recorded 2006Peak year
1951
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1893
Arnett popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1893–2006
- Peak year (1951)
- 35
- Annual births at peak, across 114 years of records
Arnett popularity over time - girls
75 total births recorded since 1917 (Arnett as girls' name)
Arnett by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Arnett's strongest decade.
223 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Arnett births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 22
1890s
22 births
- 1900s 17
1900s
17 births
- 1910s
1910s
171 births
- 1920s
1920s
203 births
- 1930s
1930s
171 births
- 1940s
1940s
183 births
- 1950s
1950s
223 births
- 1960s
1960s
120 births
- 1970s
1970s
98 births
- 1980s 52
1980s
52 births
- 1990s 19
1990s
19 births
- 2000s 19
2000s
19 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 223 births (17% of all-time use).
How Arnett compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Arnett's total volume
Arnett vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Arnett by state
Where Arnett concentrates geographically, total births since 1893
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Virginia | | 55 | 4.2% |
| #2 | New York | | 10 | 0.8% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Kentucky | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Mississippi | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Oklahoma | | 5 | 0.4% |
West Virginia share of Arnett's total US births 4.2%
Even split
55 of 1,298 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Arnett? ▼
Arnett has been given to 1,298 babies in the U.S. since 1893, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2006. 35 babies were born in 1951, its single highest year.
When was Arnett most popular? ▼
Arnett was most popular in the 1950s decade with 223 total births. The single peak year was 1951.
Where is Arnett most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Arnett are West Virginia (55 births), New York (10 births), Georgia (6 births).
Is Arnett a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Arnett is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,298 births, and as a girl's name it has 75 births.
How long has the name Arnett been used? ▼
Records for Arnett go back to 1893, giving 114 years of history through 2006.
What names are similar to Arnett? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Arnold, Arnulfo, Arnoldo, Arnav, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Arnett's data
- Arnett's decade-level peak was the 1950s (223 total births); usage has since declined to 19 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- West Virginia records the most Arnetts (55 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. West Virginia names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Arnett
Nearby Names Like Arnett
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Arnett
Arnold Boy
#1688 103,846 births
Arnulfo Boy
#5467 6,316 births
Arnoldo Boy
#3616 4,713 births
Arnav Boy
#3843 3,585 births
Arne Boy
#10989 2,854 births
Compare Arnett side by side: Arnett vs Arnold Arnett vs Arnulfo Arnett vs Arnoldo
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1893–2006 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Arnett: Baby Name Since 1893 - 1,298 Births, Peak 1951." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/arnett. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Arnett draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.