Barney Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Barney is an Old English name derived from the Hebrew 'Barnabas', meaning 'son of encouragement'. The name has evolved through various forms like Barny and has biblical relevance through its association with a New Testament figure. It gained popularity in the 19th century and is currently perceived as playful due to cultural references, especially in children's media.
The name Barney is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Barney has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Barney' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 340th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 417th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 476th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 882nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2097th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11138th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 12762nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5193rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7165th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8421st out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Barney' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Barney"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɑːrni/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Barney is derived from the Hebrew name 'Barnabas', which means 'son of encouragement'. It was introduced to England by the Normans and has evolved over time.
Meaning
son of encouragement
Language Evolution
Barnabas, Barny, Barney
Biblical Background
Barnabas is a significant figure in the New Testament, known for his role as a companion of the Apostle Paul.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, partly due to its association with the biblical figure and later cultural references.
Variants & Derivatives
Barny, Bernie, Barney
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Barney is often associated with childhood due to the children's television character, which has created a friendly and playful image.
Famous People
Barney Frank, Barney Rubble (fictional character), Barney Stinson (fictional character)
Explore More Barney Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Barney"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Barney"
"Barney" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 340th of 7545 | 4,696 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 417th of 6773 | 3,526 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 476th of 7552 | 4,691 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 882nd of 10718 | 1,358 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2097th of 16616 | 513 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 11138th of 24088 | 68 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 12762nd of 23106 | 43 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5193rd of 9107 | 47 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7165th of 9204 | 16 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8421st of 12526 | 28 |
Regional Popularity of "Barney" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
28.32% 401st/1416 |
24.95% 344th/1379 |
11.75% 278th/2366 |
42.38% 484th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
32.92% 509th/1546 |
33.68% 524th/1556 |
13.64% 321st/2353 |
27.34% 423rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
23.98% 534th/2227 |
25.39% 617th/2430 |
14.13% 403rd/2853 |
16.76% 465th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
37.69% 1107th/2937 |
35.69% 1243rd/3483 |
22.37% 787th/3518 |
22.35% 904th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
47.62% 2131st/4475 |
40.60% 2109th/5194 |
33.01% 2085th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Barney" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Barney"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Barney" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.