Larnell
An English given name derived from the Norman French pronunciation of Laurent (Laurence).
Name Census estimates that about 732 living Americans carry the first name Larnell. It is a predominantly male name (99.4% of registrations). The average person named Larnell today is around 49 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Larnell births was 1990 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Larnell. 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
732
~ 1 in 468,244 Americans
Peak year
1990
26 babies that year
Average age
49
years old
2017 SSA rank
#4,762
Tracked since 1918
Gender
Gender distribution for Larnell
Out of the 887 babies given the name Larnell since 1880, 99.4% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Larnell as a male name
- Ranked #9,354 in 2017
- 8 male births in 2017
- Peak: 1990 (26 births)
Larnell as a female name
- Ranked #4,762 in 1932
- 5 female births in 1932
- Peak: 1932 (5 births)
Popularity
Larnell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Larnell from the 1910s through to the 2010s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 145 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Larnell 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 Larnell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Larnells live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Illinois, Michigan, District of Columbia recorded the most babies named Larnell, while Virginia, Tennessee, District of Columbia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Larnell
The name Larnell has its origins in the English language, with roots that can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a combination of two Old English words: "lar," meaning "learning" or "wisdom," and "nell," a diminutive suffix often used to form affectionate nicknames.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Larnell can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Larnellus," referring to a landowner in the county of Lincolnshire.
During the Middle Ages, the name Larnell was particularly popular among the nobility and landed gentry, possibly due to its association with scholarship and intellectual pursuits. Notable historical figures who bore this name include Larnell de Montfort (c. 1240-1305), a prominent nobleman and military commander who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III.
In the 16th century, the name gained popularity among the emerging middle class and was often used by families aspiring to social mobility. One such individual was Larnell Whittington (1524-1579), a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of a school and almshouses in his hometown of Lichfield, England.
The name Larnell also found its way into religious and literary circles. Larnell Cranmer (1489-1556), the Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Henry VIII, played a significant role in the English Reformation and is remembered for his contribution to the Book of Common Prayer. In the realm of literature, Larnell Jonson (1572-1637), a contemporary of William Shakespeare, was a renowned playwright and poet, known for his satirical plays and masques.
Another notable figure was Larnell Wilberforce (1759-1833), a British politician and philanthropist who was instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. His tireless efforts and oratory skills inspired a generation of reformers and helped shape the course of history.
While the name Larnell has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, it still holds a place in history as a name imbued with connotations of wisdom, intellect, and nobility.
People
Larnell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Larnell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Larnell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Larnell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 732 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Larnell 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 468,244 US residents.
Is Larnell a common name?
We classify Larnell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 887 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Larnell most popular?
The single biggest year for Larnell was 1990, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Larnell is about 49 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Larnell a male name?
Yes, 99.4% of people registered as Larnell 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.