Total births
790
Boys' name · since 1890
Gurney
Since 1890, U.S. Social Security records show 790 babies named Gurney, peaking in 1928. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 790
- total births
- 1890–1969
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
Gurney is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 790 have been recorded since 1890.
Social Security Administration records show Gurney recorded 790 times among boys since 1890, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1890 to 1969.
- 790 total births
- 1890–1969 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
790 boys have been named Gurney since 1890, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1969.
- 790
- total births
- 1890–1969
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Gurney was born in this single decade.
1928
Single peak year
26 babies were named Gurney in 1928 - its busiest year on record.
Gurney's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Gurney's full recorded timeline at 1934, 46% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 54% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1890, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1928 peak of 26 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Gurney at a glance
Last recorded 1969Peak year
1928
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1890
Gurney popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1890–1969
- Peak year (1928)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 80 years of records
Gurney by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Gurney's strongest decade.
174 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Gurney births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 29
1890s
29 births
- 1900s 22
1900s
22 births
- 1910s
1910s
132 births
- 1920s
1920s
174 births
- 1930s
1930s
142 births
- 1940s
1940s
142 births
- 1950s
1950s
106 births
- 1960s 43
1960s
43 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 174 births (22% of all-time use).
How Gurney 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 Gurney's total volume
Gurney vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Gurney by state
Where Gurney concentrates geographically, total births since 1890
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 344 | 43.5% |
North Carolina share of Gurney's total US births 43.5%
344 of 790 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Gurney? ▼
Since 1890, Social Security records show 790 babies named Gurney. The most recent recorded year was 1969. Its busiest year on record was 1928, with 26 births.
When was Gurney most popular? ▼
Gurney was most popular in the 1920s decade with 174 total births. The single peak year was 1928.
Where is Gurney most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Gurney are North Carolina (344 births).
How long has the name Gurney been used? ▼
Records for Gurney go back to 1890, giving 80 years of history through 1969.
What names are similar to Gurney? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Gurbaaz, Gurpreet, Gurfateh, Gurshaan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Gurney's data
- Gurney's decade-level peak was the 1920s (174 total births); usage has since declined to 43 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Gurneys (344 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina 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 Gurney
Nearby Names Like Gurney
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Gurney
Gurbaaz Boy
#2344 387 births
Gurpreet Boy
312 births
Gurfateh Boy
#4064 261 births
Gurshaan Boy
214 births
Gurshan Boy
#11629 202 births
Compare Gurney side by side: Gurney vs Gurbaaz Gurney vs Gurpreet Gurney vs Gurfateh
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, 1890–1969 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Gurney: Baby Name Since 1890 - 790 Births, Peak 1928." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/gurney. 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 Gurney 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.