Total births
97
Unisex name · since 1918
Barnell
Barnell has 97 recorded births since 1918 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1956 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 97
- total births
- 1918–1984
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
97 boys have been named Barnell since 1918, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Barnell has been recorded 97 times among boys since 1918, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1918 to 1984.
- 97 total births
- 1918–1984 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 36% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
97 boys have been named Barnell since 1918, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1984.
- 97
- total births
- 1918–1984
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Barnell was born in this single decade.
1956
Single peak year
8 babies were named Barnell in 1956 - its busiest year on record.
Barnell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Barnell's SSA record in two at 1955 and the more recent half accounts for 53% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 47%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1918, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1956 peak of 8, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Barnell at a glance
Last recorded 1984Peak year
1956
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1918
Barnell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1918–1984
- Peak year (1956)
- 8
- Annual births at peak, across 67 years of records
Barnell popularity over time - girls
6 total births recorded since 1936 (Barnell as girls' name)
Barnell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Barnell's strongest decade.
35 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Barnell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 5
1910s
5 births
- 1920s 12
1920s
12 births
- 1940s
1940s
23 births
- 1950s
1950s
35 births
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 1980s 11
1980s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 35 births (36% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Barnell? ▼
Since 1918, Social Security records show 97 babies named Barnell. The most recent recorded year was 1984. Its busiest year on record was 1956, with 8 births.
When was Barnell most popular? ▼
Barnell was most popular in the 1950s decade with 35 total births. The single peak year was 1956.
Is Barnell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Barnell is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 97 births, and as a girl's name it has 6 births.
How long has the name Barnell been used? ▼
Barnell has been recorded in Social Security data since 1918, spanning 67 years of data through 1984.
What names are similar to Barnell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Barry, Barrett, Bart, Barney, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Barnell's data
- Barnell's decade-level peak was the 1950s (35 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Barnell
Nearby Names Like Barnell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Barnell
Barry Boy
#1413 181,270 births
Barrett Boy
#187 33,425 births
Bart Boy
16,356 births
Barney Boy
#9895 16,090 births
Barton Boy
#12365 9,371 births
Compare Barnell side by side: Barnell vs Barry Barnell vs Barrett Barnell vs Bart
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1918–1984 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Barnell: Baby Name Since 1918 - 97 Births, Peak 1956." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/barnell. 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 Barnell 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 July 2026.