Total births
1,558
Unisex name · since 1912
Bernell
Bernell has 1,558 recorded births since 1912 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1923 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,558
- total births
- 1912–2019
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 16%
- born in that decade
Bernell sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 1,558 recorded since 1912.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bernell has been recorded 1,558 times among boys since 1912, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 2019.
- 1,558 total births
- 1912–2019 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 16% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,558 boys have been named Bernell since 1912, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2019.
- 1,558
- total births
- 1912–2019
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 16%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
16% of everyone ever named Bernell was born in this single decade.
1923
Single peak year
39 babies were named Bernell in 1923 - its busiest year on record.
Bernell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Bernell's full recorded timeline at 1956, 37% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 63% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 2011, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1923 peak of 39 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Bernell at a glance
Last recorded 2019Peak year
1923
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1912
Bernell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–2019
- Peak year (1923)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 108 years of records
Bernell popularity over time - girls
750 total births recorded since 1915 (Bernell as girls' name)
Bernell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Bernell's strongest decade.
251 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Bernell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
117 births
- 1920s
1920s
251 births
- 1930s
1930s
235 births
- 1940s
1940s
219 births
- 1950s
1950s
245 births
- 1960s
1960s
166 births
- 1970s
1970s
127 births
- 1980s
1980s
114 births
- 1990s 62
1990s
62 births
- 2000s 6
2000s
6 births
- 2010s 16
2010s
16 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 251 births (16% of all-time use).
How Bernell 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 Bernell's total volume
Bernell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Bernell by state
Where Bernell concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 180 | 11.6% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 16 | 1.0% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #4 | Arkansas | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.3% |
Louisiana share of Bernell's total US births 11.6%
Even split
180 of 1,558 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Bernell? ▼
Since 1912, Social Security records show 1,558 babies named Bernell. The most recent recorded year was 2019. Its busiest year on record was 1923, with 39 births.
When was Bernell most popular? ▼
Bernell was most popular in the 1920s decade with 251 total births. The single peak year was 1923.
Where is Bernell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Bernell are Louisiana (180 births), Illinois (16 births), Mississippi (6 births).
Is Bernell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Bernell is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,558 births, and as a girl's name it has 750 births.
How long has the name Bernell been used? ▼
Bernell has been recorded in Social Security data since 1912, spanning 108 years of data through 2019.
What names are similar to Bernell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Bernard, Bert, Bernardo, Bernie, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Bernell's data
- Bernell's decade-level peak was the 1920s (251 total births); usage has since declined to 16 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Bernells (180 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana 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 Bernell
Nearby Names Like Bernell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Bernell
Bernard Boy
#1318 200,087 births
Bert Boy
#8312 33,585 births
Bernardo Boy
#1342 11,175 births
Bernie Boy
#5454 9,225 births
Bertram Boy
#7766 7,955 births
Compare Bernell side by side: Bernell vs Bernard Bernell vs Bert Bernell vs Bernardo
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Darious #11118
1,558 births · Peak 1993
Shivam #3652
1,558 births · Peak 1998
Stevenson #9053
1,559 births · Peak 1953
Jacolby #8530
1,557 births · Peak 1992
Kross #1317
1,557 births · Peak 2022
Stratton #2347
1,560 births · Peak 2022
Montel #11115
1,560 births · Peak 1995
Yisrael #1912
1,560 births · Peak 2024
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, 1912–2019 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Bernell: Baby Name Since 1912 - 1,558 Births, Peak 1923." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/bernell. 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 Bernell 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.