Total births
180
Unisex name · since 1917
Varnell
Varnell has 180 recorded births since 1917 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1956 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 180
- total births
- 1917–1987
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 23%
- born in that decade
Varnell is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 180 have been recorded since 1917.
Varnell has 180 recorded births among boys since 1917, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1930s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1917 to 1987.
- 180 total births
- 1917–1987 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 23% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
180 boys have been named Varnell since 1917, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1987.
- 180
- total births
- 1917–1987
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 23%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Varnell was born in this single decade.
1956
Single peak year
10 babies were named Varnell in 1956 - its busiest year on record.
Varnell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Varnell's SSA record in two at 1945 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1917, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1956 peak of 10, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Varnell at a glance
Last recorded 1987Peak year
1956
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1917
Varnell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1917–1987
- Peak year (1956)
- 10
- Annual births at peak, across 71 years of records
Varnell popularity over time - girls
98 total births recorded since 1915 (Varnell as girls' name)
Varnell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Varnell's strongest decade.
42 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Varnell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 11
1910s
11 births
- 1920s
1920s
38 births
- 1930s
1930s
42 births
- 1940s
1940s
22 births
- 1950s
1950s
38 births
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s
1970s
19 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 42 births (23% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Varnell? ▼
180 babies have been named Varnell since 1917. It was last recorded in 1987. The peak year was 1956 with 10 births.
When was Varnell most popular? ▼
Varnell was most popular in the 1930s decade with 42 total births. The single peak year was 1956.
Is Varnell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Varnell is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 180 births, and as a girl's name it has 98 births.
How long has the name Varnell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Varnell since 1917 -- 71 years through the most recent 1987 data.
What names are similar to Varnell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Varun, Varian, Varick, Vardaan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Varnell's data
- Varnell's decade-level peak was the 1930s (42 total births); usage has since declined to 5 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 Varnell
Nearby Names Like Varnell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Varnell
Varun Boy
#5324 2,598 births
Varian Boy
#7357 410 births
Varick Boy
257 births
Vardaan Boy
#2869 218 births
Vartan Boy
180 births
Compare Varnell side by side: Varnell vs Varun Varnell vs Varian Varnell vs Varick
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, 1917–1987 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Varnell: Baby Name Since 1917 - 180 Births, Peak 1956." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/varnell. 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 Varnell 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.