Contrell
Of unknown origin, possibly a variation of the name Cornell.
Name Census estimates that about 213 living Americans carry the first name Contrell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Contrell today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Contrell births was 2002 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Contrell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
213
~ 1 in 1,609,175 Americans
Peak year
2002
13 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2015 SSA rank
#10,940
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Contrell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Contrell from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 58 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Contrell remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Contrell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Contrell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Contrells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Contrell
The given name Contrell is a fairly uncommon and unique name, originating from the Gaelic language spoken in parts of Ireland and Scotland. The name is believed to have its roots in the Old Irish word "contur," which means "a noble warrior" or "a brave fighter."
In the early medieval period, the name Contrell was likely used among the Gaelic clans and tribes of Ireland and Scotland to honor newborn sons with the qualities of strength, courage, and valor. The name's meaning and origin are closely tied to the warrior culture of these Celtic societies.
Although there are no definitive records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some historians suggest that the name Contrell may have been derived from a variant spelling of the name Conall, which was a popular name among Irish kings and chieftains in the 6th and 7th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Contrell dates back to the 12th century, when a warrior named Contrell Mac Giolla Bhríde fought alongside Irish rebels against the Norman invaders. His bravery and skill in battle were widely celebrated, and the name Contrell became associated with valor and heroism.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Contrell. One such figure was Contrell Ó Maoil Sheachlainn (1560-1635), an Irish nobleman and poet who wrote extensively about the struggles of his people against English colonization.
Another famous bearer of the name was Contrell MacCulloch (1742-1818), a Scottish soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent figure in the settlement of Nova Scotia.
In the 19th century, Contrell Buchanan (1826-1891) was a Scottish-born American inventor who patented several important innovations in the field of agriculture and farming equipment.
More recently, Contrell Crow (1911-1988) was a renowned Choctaw artist and painter, known for his vibrant depictions of Native American life and culture.
Lastly, Contrell Varnado (1945-2021) was an American blues and soul singer who achieved recognition for his powerful vocals and contributions to the Southern soul music scene.
While not a highly prevalent name today, Contrell's rich history and associations with bravery, nobility, and cultural heritage make it a unique and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with deep roots and significance.
People
Contrell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Contrell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Contrell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Contrell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 213 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Contrell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,609,175 US residents.
Is Contrell a common name?
We classify Contrell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 220 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Contrell most popular?
The single biggest year for Contrell was 2002, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Contrell is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Contrell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Contrell in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.