Barney
Barney is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Son of encouragement (via Barnaby) or brave bear (via Bernard).
Origin and history
Barney is an English given name traditionally used as a short form for Barnaby or Bernard. It was moderately popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is relatively rare for newborns and is widely recognized through popular culture references.
Popularity in the United States
16,090 babies in the United States have been named Barney since 1880. It ranks #931 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1910.
States where it is most popular
- TX (13.7 %)
- NY (8.4 %)
- CA (8.4 %)
- GA (7.8 %)
- AL (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 535 |
| 1890-1900 | 572 |
| 1900-1910 | 595 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,197 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,400 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,911 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,168 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,672 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,598 |
| 1970-1980 | 755 |
| 1980-1990 | 430 |
| 1990-2000 | 173 |
| 2000-2010 | 30 |
| 2010-2019 | 37 |
| 2020-2029 | 17 |
Famous people named Barney
- Barney Frank: Politician, U.S. Representative
- Barney Cable: Basketball Player
Fun facts
- Barney developed in English as a pet form for both Aramaic-derived Barnaby and Germanic-derived Bernard.
- The name was most commonly given in the U.S. between 1880 and 1950 before experiencing a steady decline.
- Barney gained widespread recognition through television characters such as Barney Rubble from The Flintstones and Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show.