Unisex name · since 1894

Vernal

1,788 babies named Vernal in U.S. Social Security records since 1894, with the highest year being 1916. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.

1,788
total births
1894–2005
years on record
1920s
peak decade
22%
born in that decade

Vernal is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,788 have been recorded since 1894.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Vernal has been recorded 1,788 times among boys since 1894, 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 1894 to 2005.

  • 1,788 total births
  • 1894–2005 years on record
  • 1920s peak decade
  • 22% born in that decade

Data updated Jul 2026

The verdict

1,788 boys have been named Vernal since 1894, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2005.

1,788
total births
1894–2005
years on record
1920s
peak decade
22%
born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade

22% of everyone ever named Vernal was born in this single decade.

1916
Single peak year

49 babies were named Vernal in 1916 - its busiest year on record.

Vernal's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Vernal's SSA record in two at 1947 and the more recent half accounts for 31% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 69%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1894, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1916 peak of 49, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Vernal at a glance

Last recorded 2005

Total births

1,788

Since 1894

112 years of records

Peak year

1916

49 births that year

Strongest decade: 1920s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 2005

Active since

1894

Recorded for 112 years

Last year on file: 2005

Vernal popularity over time - boys

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1894–2005

Last recorded 2005
Peak year (1916)
49
Annual births at peak, across 112 years of records
0102030405060 189419151927193919511963197519882005 5

Vernal popularity over time - girls

370 total births recorded since 1892 (Vernal as girls' name)

Unisex variant - 370 births
05101520 18921907191719231929193519481962 5

Vernal by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1920s was Vernal's strongest decade.

390 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.

Vernal births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 390 births (22% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of July 2026

How Vernal 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 Vernal's total volume

Vernal vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Vernal vs 15 similarly-sized boys names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Vernal
Vernal vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Vernal by state

Where Vernal concentrates geographically, total births since 1894

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Vernal
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Utah
27 1.5%
#2 Idaho
22 1.2%
#3 Kansas
12 0.7%
#4 California
5 0.3%
#5 Illinois
5 0.3%
#6 Kentucky
5 0.3%
#7 North Carolina
5 0.3%
#8 New York
5 0.3%
Utah share of Vernal's total US births 1.5%
Even split

27 of 1,788 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 9 reporting states.

Vernal appears in 9 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Vernal? ▼
Since 1894, Social Security records show 1,788 babies named Vernal. The most recent recorded year was 2005. Its busiest year on record was 1916, with 49 births.
When was Vernal most popular? ▼
Vernal was most popular in the 1920s decade with 390 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Vernal most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Vernal are Utah (27 births), Idaho (22 births), Kansas (12 births).
Is Vernal a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Vernal is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,788 births, and as a girl's name it has 370 births.
How long has the name Vernal been used? ▼
Records for Vernal go back to 1894, giving 112 years of history through 2005.
What names are similar to Vernal? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Vernon, Vern, Verne, Verlin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.

What to do with Vernal's data

  • Vernal's decade-level peak was the 1920s (390 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Utah records the most Vernals (27 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Utah 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 Vernal

Nearby Names Like Vernal

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Vernal

Vernon Boy
#1557 146,413 births
Vern Boy
#10938 11,497 births
Verne Boy
5,841 births
Verlin Boy
#12409 3,812 births
Vernell Boy
3,344 births

Compare Vernal side by side: Vernal vs Vernon Vernal vs Vern Vernal vs Verne

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Paulino #5683
1,788 births · Peak 1995
Roshan #3644
1,788 births · Peak 2010
Winslow #2721
1,789 births · Peak 2022
Markanthony #11179
1,789 births · Peak 1997
Tyriq #3752
1,789 births · Peak 1998
Takoda #2465
1,790 births · Peak 1998
Rachel
1,791 births · Peak 1989
Jaison #6263
1,785 births · Peak 2008

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, 1894–2005 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Vernal: Baby Name Since 1894 - 1,788 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/vernal. 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 Vernal 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.