Find out how popular the first name Barrett has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Barrett by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Barrett is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Barrett being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,780 male babies and 30 female babies born with the name Barrett.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 30 baby girls were named Barrett in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Barrett

The name Barrett is an English given name derived from the Old English word "bearu" meaning "grove" or "meadow". It is believed to have originated as a surname in medieval times, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a grove or meadowed area.

The earliest recorded use of Barrett as a given name dates back to the late 16th century in England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Barrett Hampden (1552-1624), an English landowner and Member of Parliament.

In the 17th century, Barrett became a popular name among Puritans in the American colonies. One notable figure was Barrett Dyer (1646-1717), a Quaker preacher and author from Massachusetts.

During the American Revolutionary War, Barrett Browning (1744-1823) served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a role in the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775.

In the 19th century, Barrett Wendell (1855-1921) was an American educator and literary scholar who taught at Harvard University and wrote extensively on English literature.

Another notable bearer of the name was Barrett Browning (1806-1861), an English poet and wife of the famous poet Robert Browning. She is best known for her work "Sonnets from the Portuguese".

In the 20th century, Barrett Deems (1914-1998) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader who performed with many legendary musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

Barrett Wilbert Weed (born 1972) is a contemporary American actress and singer known for her role in the Broadway musical "Mean Girls".

While the name Barrett is traditionally a male name, it has also been used as a female name in more recent times, particularly in the United States.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Barrett was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Barrett, please contact us.

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