Barney
Barney was the 12274th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked 202nd; the most babies were born in 1919 (304). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,450 places. More babies were named Barney in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #12,274 boys, down 27 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 5boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1919304 babies
- Total since 1880
- 16,181babies recorded
Barney popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 91 since 1916.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,274 | 5 |
| 2020 | #12,247 | 5 |
| 2010 | #10,910 | 6 |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1990 | #2,319 | 30 |
| 1980 | #1,205 | 58 |
| 1970 | #875 | 85 |
| 1960 | #485 | 267 |
| 1950 | #415 | 264 |
| 1940 | #415 | 194 |
| 1930 | #389 | 216 |
| 1920 | #369 | 263 |
| 1910 | #291 | 71 |
| 1900 | #216 | 83 |
| 1890 | #256 | 44 |
| 1880 | #249 | 44 |
How popular is Barney, counting every spelling?
Barney has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Barney?
5 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Barney (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Barney born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,661 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Barney.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Barney?
About 5,500 people born in the US named Barney are alive today, with a median age of 67; half are between 57 and 75. That makes Barney a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Barney by state
How common Barney was among boys born in each state in 1917–1921, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Florida (3.1×), Georgia (2.9×), Texas (2.7×), Oklahoma (2.7×), Alabama (2.3×). In 25 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Barney: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Barney, they share its era and feel.
Barney is also a nickname for Bernard.
Questions about the name Barney
How popular is the name Barney?
Barney was the 12274th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked 202nd; the most babies were born in 1919 (304). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,450 places. More babies were named Barney in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Barney a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Barney in the US.
Where was Barney most popular?
In 1917–1921, Barney was most common in Florida (0.88 per 1,000 boys), followed by Georgia and Texas.