Earnell
A masculine name derived from the English word "earnest", suggesting sincerity or seriousness.
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Earnell. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 77.3% of registrations being male. The average person named Earnell today is around 72 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Earnell births was 1947 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Earnell. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Earnell is about 72 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Earnells were born before 1964.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Earnell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
1947
12 babies that year
Average age
72
years old
1957 SSA rank
#4,142
Tracked since 1947
Gender
Gender distribution for Earnell
Earnell is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 22 total registrations, 17 (77.3%) were male and 5 (22.7%) were female.
Earnell as a male name
- Ranked #4,142 in 1957
- 5 male births in 1957
- Peak: 1947 (7 births)
Earnell as a female name
- Ranked #5,534 in 1947
- 5 female births in 1947
- Peak: 1947 (5 births)
Popularity
Earnell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Earnell from the 1940s through to the 1950s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 12 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Earnell 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 Earnell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Earnell
The name Earnell is an English given name with roots that can be traced back to the Old English language. It is derived from the combination of the Old English elements "earn" meaning "eagle" and "ell" meaning "strength" or "might." This suggests that the name Earnell was originally intended to convey the attributes of power, courage, and nobility, characteristics often associated with the majestic eagle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Earnell can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their properties compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. In this historical document, an individual named Earnell is listed as a landowner in the county of Essex, England.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Earnell appeared sporadically in various English parish records and historical documents. While not a particularly common name during this period, it maintained a presence among the English gentry and nobility.
In the late 16th century, an Earnell Smythe was recorded as a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. His success in trade and civic affairs contributed to the name's continued use among the wealthy merchant class of the time.
During the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name Earnell was Sir Earnell Willoughby, a renowned English soldier and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Americas. He was born in 1592 and is recognized for his contributions to the early exploration and settlement of the Virginia Colony.
In the 18th century, Earnell Hawkins, a noted English clergyman and scholar, gained recognition for his theological writings and sermons. He was born in 1716 and served as the rector of several parishes throughout his lifetime.
The 19th century saw the birth of Earnell Jones, a Welsh-born engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines. Born in 1819, his innovations played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution.
While the name Earnell has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its unique blend of Old English elements and connection to notable figures across various fields have preserved its place in the English naming tradition.
People
Earnell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Earnell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Earnell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Earnell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Earnell 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Earnell a common name?
We classify Earnell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Earnell most popular?
The single biggest year for Earnell was 1947, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Earnell is about 72 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Earnell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Earnell a male name?
Yes, 77.3% of people registered as Earnell 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.
Is Earnell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Earnell in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Earnell can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Earnell?
See how many people have the name Earnell on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.