Vardell
A variant form of the English surname derived from someone who lived near a spring.
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Vardell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vardell today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vardell births was 1951 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vardell. 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 Vardell is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Vardells were born before 1960.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vardell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1951
8 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1951 SSA rank
#3,054
Tracked since 1923
Popularity
Vardell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vardell from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 12 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Vardell remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vardell 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 Vardell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vardells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Vardell
The given name Vardell is believed to have originated from the Old English word "weard," which means "guard" or "protector." This name was commonly used in Anglo-Saxon England, particularly during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vardell can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The document lists several individuals bearing the name, indicating its usage among the English population at that time.
During the medieval period, the name Vardell was often associated with individuals who served as guards or protectors of castles, estates, or important figures. It was considered a name that conveyed strength, courage, and a sense of duty.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Vardell de Dunstable gained recognition for his involvement in the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He was a skilled stonemason and oversaw the cathedral's intricate masonry work.
Another historical figure bearing this name was Vardell of Shrewsbury, who lived during the 14th century. He was a respected knight and military commander known for his bravery in battles against the Welsh forces during the conflicts between England and Wales.
In the 16th century, a writer and poet named Vardell Cavendish gained recognition for his literary works, which often explored themes of chivalry and courtly love. He was born in 1520 and died in 1587.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Royalist soldier named Vardell Fortescue fought valiantly for King Charles I. He was captured by Parliamentarian forces in 1645 and is believed to have died in captivity.
The name Vardell has also been found in ancient texts and religious scriptures, though its appearances are relatively rare. Some scholars suggest that it may have been used as a minor character name in certain biblical narratives or in early Christian writings.
While the name Vardell has faded in popularity over time, it remains a part of English naming traditions and serves as a reminder of the country's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
People
Vardell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vardell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vardell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vardell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vardell 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Vardell a common name?
We classify Vardell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vardell most popular?
The single biggest year for Vardell was 1951, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vardell is about 76 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 Vardell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vardell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vardell 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 Vardell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vardell 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 Vardell 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 Vardell?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.