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

Popularity of Garnett by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Garnett is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Garnett being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Garnett.

The history of the first name Garnett

The given name Garnett is derived from the Old French word "grenat," meaning "pomegranate." This word traces its roots back to the Latin word "granatus," which also means "pomegranate." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname referring to the deep red color of the pomegranate fruit.

The earliest recorded use of the name Garnett dates back to the late 12th century in England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Garnett of Navestock, who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1198.

In the 13th century, the name Garnett was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1230, which were legal records from the royal court of England. This suggests that the name had gained some popularity during that time period.

One of the most notable historical figures with the name Garnett was Henry Garnett (1555-1606), an English Jesuit priest who was executed for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed attempt to assassinate King James I of England.

Another significant bearer of the name was Thomas Garnett (1766-1802), an English physician and writer who is best known for his work on the theory of electricity and his contributions to the field of chemistry.

In the realm of literature, Constance Garnett (1861-1946) was a renowned English translator who introduced many of the great works of Russian literature, including those by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, to English-speaking audiences.

The name Garnett also has connections to the world of sports. Garnett Silk (1966-1994) was a Jamaican reggae musician and vocalist who achieved international success before his untimely death at the age of 28.

Finally, Kevin Maurice Garnett (born 1976) is a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 21 seasons and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

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 Garnett was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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