Total births
762
Boys' name · since 1913
Purnell
Purnell has 762 recorded births since 1913 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1964 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 762
- total births
- 1913–2010
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Purnell sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 762 recorded since 1913.
Social Security Administration records show Purnell recorded 762 times among boys since 1913, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1913 to 2010.
- 762 total births
- 1913–2010 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
762 boys have been named Purnell since 1913, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 2010.
- 762
- total births
- 1913–2010
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Purnell was born in this single decade.
1964
Single peak year
19 babies were named Purnell in 1964 - its busiest year on record.
Purnell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Purnell splits its recorded history at 1956: 51% of all births land in the more recent half, 49% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1913 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1964 peak of 19 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Purnell at a glance
Last recorded 2010Peak year
1964
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1913
Purnell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1913–2010
- Peak year (1964)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 98 years of records
Purnell popularity over time - girls
6 total births recorded since 1919 (Purnell as girls' name)
Purnell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Purnell's strongest decade.
126 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Purnell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
51 births
- 1920s
1920s
83 births
- 1930s
1930s
73 births
- 1940s
1940s
96 births
- 1950s
1950s
118 births
- 1960s
1960s
126 births
- 1970s
1970s
95 births
- 1980s
1980s
60 births
- 1990s 43
1990s
43 births
- 2000s 11
2000s
11 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 126 births (17% of all-time use).
How Purnell 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 Purnell's total volume
Purnell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Purnell by state
Where Purnell concentrates geographically, total births since 1913
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Purnell? ▼
Purnell has been given to 762 babies in the U.S. since 1913, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2010. 19 babies were born in 1964, its single highest year.
When was Purnell most popular? ▼
Purnell was most popular in the 1960s decade with 126 total births. The single peak year was 1964.
Where is Purnell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Purnell are Maryland (64 births), Virginia (22 births).
How long has the name Purnell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Purnell since 1913 -- 98 years through the most recent 2010 data.
What names are similar to Purnell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Purvis, Purcell, Purl, Purpose, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Purnell's data
- Purnell's decade-level peak was the 1960s (126 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Maryland records the most Purnells (64 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Maryland 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 Purnell
Nearby Names Like Purnell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Purnell
Purvis Boy
969 births
Purcell Boy
454 births
Purl Boy
81 births
Purpose Boy
#12051 68 births
Purav Boy
61 births
Compare Purnell side by side: Purnell vs Purvis Purnell vs Purcell Purnell vs Purl
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, 1913–2010 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Purnell: Baby Name Since 1913 - 762 Births, Peak 1964." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/purnell. 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 Purnell 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.