Barney
Meaning
diminutive of Bernard, 'brave as a bear'
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Barney peaked in the 1890s and the 1960s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
34 people · the #86,756 first name in Brazil · median age 40
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Barney
People given the name Barney in the United States span the generations: the middle half were born anywhere from 1950 to 1979. Age is the one thing the name won't tell you.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Barney deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Barney truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Barney fits with your family’s names and surname.
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